Shaping better future for town

From: David Wyles, Chairman, Huddersfield Civic Society.

BARRY Sheerman’s efforts to make Huddersfield a model of sustainability (The Yorkshire Post, April 2) echo efforts being made by Huddersfield Civic Society (HCS) and partner civil society organisations.

Our society recognises that environmental issues and culture are as important to the future of the town as its distinguished architectural heritage. Specifically, the HCS committee has co-ordinated workshops, guest speakers and engaged fully in planning consultations that affect the environmental sustainability of the town.

It has welcomed Kirklees Council’s town centre blueprint but advocated more effort in attracting residential use to specific sites, as has been achieved in Leeds and Sheffield. Our recent submissions have advocated safer cycle routes, better access to our public transport hubs and challenged assumptions about meeting emission reduction targets by 2038 whilst increasing road capacity.

Perhaps the current crisis will be a wake-up call to those who have cast climate change to the back of their minds. HCS will integrate these issues into the heart of its work.

We aim to respond to future plans of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Kirklees Council that will affect our town for future decades. Details of recent responses to the Kirklees Council Huddersfield Blueprint, proposals for the Trans Pennine rail upgrade and Leeds Road Smart Corridor improvement can be found at www.huddersfieldcivicsociety.org