‘It’s not a masterplan – it’s a joke!’
BUSINESSMEN on Huddersfield’s doomed Piazza Centre say they are still in the dark over their future nine months after Kirklees Council unveiled its transformative town centre blueprint.
Matthew Bell, co-owner with Liam Garvey of Coffee Cali on The Shambles in Huddersfield, spoke out last year and accused the council of “intentionally” excluding traders from plans for the £250m Huddersfield Blueprint.
The massive changes include bulldozing the Piazza and turning the space into a park.
Now, following the approval of plans to make the Huddersfield Blueprint an official guideline for all town centre development, the council has re-opened a pop-up shop on the Piazza so residents can see how their feedback has shaped the plans.
A frustrated and exasperated Mr Bell called it “a joke”.
“There’s less information in there than there was when they came to tell us they were knocking the buildings down last year.
“You should see the place: there’s nothing in it. It’s a disgrace - a waste of money.
“The two people in there are part of the planning department, but in Dewsbury! We went in there thinking we might get some news and start to plan. All they had were brochures.
“It’s not a masterplan. The shop is a joke.”
Kirklees Council said it was unable to provide “conclusive information” on future plans until it had concluded a consultation with tenants, traders and residents.
Tenants such as Mr Bell were made aware of the enormity of the revamp - and its impact on their businesses - just two hours before the plan’s public launch last June.
He said: “It’s very difficult to have a conversation with anyone from the council.
“I’ve not had anyone from the council come to see me. I had to arrange a meeting with the piazza manager and he said the asset manager didn’t know what was happening.
“It’s no way for us to be able to run a business. The other independents feel the same way.”
Mr Bell described the sudden closure of the Alfred Street multistorey car park as another hammer blow to struggling traders.
He and Mr Garvey have four years remaining on a five-year contract that began in September.
They signed it before they knew the piazza was to be demolished.
Mr Bell commented: “We either die a slow death or they release us from it. There’s a complete lack of respect for the people of the town and the businesses in the town.
“The indecision will finish us off before they demolish the buildings.”
Senior councillor Peter McBride said: “The Huddersfield Blueprint went through an extensive period of engagement when we launched it so we could make sure we got the plans absolutely right for local people.
“I completely understand that tenants want updates as soon as possible on the future of the shopping centre but we can’t give any conclusive information on the future of the piazza until we’ve gone through the consultation process.”