HUDDERSFIELD TOWN CENTRE – COUNCILLORS’ ACTION and COMMITMENT ESSENTIAL (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN CENTRE – COUNCILLORS’ ACTION and COMMITMENT ESSENTIAL

January 9, 2012 3:48 PM

Cllr Christine Stanfield

Cllr Christine Stanfield, the Lib Dem Chair of the Huddersfield Area Committee, fully supports the recent comments in the Examiner about the urgent need for the councillor's to act.

Cllr Stanfield said:

"All Huddersfield councillors belong to the Huddersfield Area Committee. Its role is for councillors to work together to improve our town. The Committee is allocated substantial funding from the Council. In 2011 -12 this amounted to £246,190.00 Capital funding and £104,090.00 Revenue funding.

"I want the majority of this funding to be dedicated to funding improvements to our Town Centre. All our residents will use the shops and facilities in town, so any action we can take will benefit all local people. Unfortunately, I was not able to get all councillors to agree to pool the resources in this way. Other Area Committees do this, so it is nothing unusual."

Cllr Christine Stanfield, Chair of the Huddersfield Area Committee said :

There is a Huddersfield Area Committee on Wednesday 11 January 2012 and I urge local people to come and make their views known about the need for the Committee to spend its funds on improving the Town Centre. Doing so would change Councillor's approach so that we can start planning for improvements to our town centre.

I want this committee to stand up for Huddersfield and show its support by coming forward with ideas and schemes that will make a difference. The whole point of making a 'Huddersfield Area Committee' was to focus on the Town Centre as well as the seven wards which comprise the area.

Residents have the right to expect all Councillors to take responsibility for the Town Centre. The tragedy is that there is a way, but there is no will! Until all Councillors face up to their responsibility and start working together to agree a programme, the Town Centre will continue to deteriorate. This is the real challenge for 2012 and I am sure residents will welcome a change from apathy and disinterest. I look forward to businesses and concerned residents coming to the Committee to make their views plain."