Time for town to go for status as new city
investors who don’t know where Huddersfield is – they’re working in Helsinki and Dubai. Raising our profile would be really helpful, although there would be work to do on the ‘sell’. Cities like Leeds and Manchester have their own distinctive personalities. Each city needs a great personality.”
Clr David Sheard, leader of Kirklees Council, said he had no strong views on Huddersfield getting city status, but said when it had been mooted previously the verdict from people had been a “resounding No”. He said the irony of arguing that city status would put Huddersfield on the map was that Huddersfield TOWN had raised the profile of the place.
He said: “There are advantages in staying a town. Some of the problems Leeds and Manchester have in terms of congestion would not be welcome. People also think the town is much more friendly than its neighbouring cities.”
Sean Jarvis, commercial director at Huddersfield Town, said the club would welcome city status, adding: “It would put us firmly on the global map.” But he reassured fans: “I don’t see us changing our name from Huddersfield Town to Huddersfield City. It’s highly unlikely that would happen under (chairman) Dean Hoyle’s stewardship. Huddersfield doesn’t get the recognition we deserve. It’s nice to be a town – and one of the best in the UK – but if we went for city status that would be great.” the region – ensuring more jobs, more investment and more support for its industries. Schemes such as the ambitious HD One leisure and retail development alongside the stadium would also benefit, he said.
He said: “Without city status there is the danger that all the investment will go to Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester and we will become a backwater. The worry is that Leeds will become a magnet for investment. It is important we fight our corner.”
“Leeds is a fabulous city. I love it to bits, but Leeds has its own skill sets in areas like finance. We have our skills sets in our industries and we are quite innovative. We need to build on our strengths.”
Graham, who is the founder of pharmaceutical business Galpharm International and professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Huddersfield, said with Brexit looming, city status would help project Huddersfield on the world stage.
The town had several successful national and international companies, but he said more was needed. “We have to be more international,” he said. “We can only do that with investment to fund facilities in areas like engineering, technology and robotics and by bringing people into the area.”
The high-powered gathering, which met over lunch at the Woodman Inn, Thunderbridge, included Prof Bob Cryan, vicechancellor of the University of Huddersfield; Sir John Harman, a former leader of Kirklees Council and chairman of Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd; and Ken Davy,