Controversial Castle Hill visitor centre plan gets green light
Councillors were split on whether to give the go ahead for a new building, atop one of West Yorkshire's best known landmarks
Despite the strength of feeling demonstrated by members of the public, plans for a new visitor centre at Castle Hill have been approved.
Today (February 19), Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee met to determine the controversial plans for Castle Hill. Full planning permission has now been secured for the construction of a visitor centre on the north east of the site which will provide several facilities including a restaurant/café/bar, six bedrooms, and gallery.
The building will be set across three floors, with a kitchen area, staff facilities and toilets in a basement below the existing ground level. A reception, shop, interactive rooms and gallery, toilets, bedrooms and staff entrance will be situated on the “earth sheltered” ground floor. And the first floor, which will be fully above ground, would house a 70-cover restaurant, with a lift and viewing terrace. A 41-space car park will also be provided.
Council officers had recommended that the application be approved subject to several conditions including: a £10,000 contribution to sustainable transport; “certainty” that the identified benefits are delivered, including confirmation of the arrangement and agreement of funding for the development; and the implementation of a management plan for the exhibition/interpretation room and toilet facilities.
Given the public interest and history in the application, Principal Planning Officer and Legal Advisor for the application, Victoria Leam, reminded members of the committee that they could not have or show bias. It was said that members may have predispositions and have engaged with residents but could not approach the decision with a “closed mind” or “fixed intention” to vote, regardless of the meeting’s debate.
After making their representations, members of the public were seriously concerned when committee member, Cllr Mohan Sokhal (Labour, Greenhead) proceeded to read a lengthy statement from a pre-prepared sheet of paper expressing his support for the application. One member of the public shouted from their seat: “Reading a speech written before the meeting does not show that the meeting is being approached with an open mind”. But Ms Leam did not indicate that any rules had been breached.
John Mitchell, who has lived in the area for 22 years, highlighted quotes from Kirklees’ officers in application documents admitting that the proposals will “harm the setting” of heritage assets. He said the idea that the benefits brought by facilities such as toilets and interpretation rooms would outweigh the harm caused by the development, as asserted by council officers, was nonsense. He added: “A town centre-style, weekend pre-booking only, mainly car-accessed restaurant bar will not enhance the experience of the vast majority of visitors but may well please urban 30-somethings with deep pockets.”
Others spoke of concerns around the highways and accidents they had witnessed on the surrounding access roads. Though a highways officer said that the proposals were acceptable. It was also explained that the council only takes into account recorded incidents. Councillors Alison Munro (Lib Dems, Almondbury), and Andrew Cooper (Greens, Newsome), were also in attendance voicing their concerns.
Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, was in solidarity with those objecting to the plans. His speech, read by Donna Wright described Castle Hill as “A landmark in both geographical and psychological sense and a place of escape and belonging at the same time”. It went on: “In an era when so much natural landscape is being degenerated, exploited and made private, this is a site that should be treasured, preserved as free and public land and maintained for its original characteristics.”
Speaking on behalf of the Thandi Partnership, Malcolm Sizer, described the site in its current state as a “barren, stony, rough car park and site of the former hotel”. He said: “Members visited the site earlier today. Wouldn’t it have been preferable for there to be available eating, drinking and free toilet facilities as well as information, details and education facilities provided to explore the site’s long history? There is no money for the council to provide such facilities at Castle Hill.
Mr Sizer told the meeting that the Community Interest Company established to operate the centre will benefit the community with “retention and reinvestment” of surplus income to support long-term conservation, operation and the public benefit of the site. He said the applicant is “very confident” that the necessary Scheduled Monument Consent will be secured and that development will take place within the required three year time frame.
The Thandi Partnership has previously named the free visitor centre, which would allow people to get a deeper understanding of Castle Hill’s 4,000-year history, as one of the benefits of the scheme, along with free access and refreshments for visiting school groups, a staffed information desk, public toilets and accessible facilities, among others.
When it came to the vote, Cllr Sokhal, Cllr Cathy Scott (Community Alliance, Dewsbury East) and Cllr James Homewood (Labour, Ashbrow), voted in favour of the plans, while Cllr Andrew Pinnock (Lib Dems, Cleckheaton), Cllr Sue-Lee Richards (Greens, Newsome), and Cllr Bill Armer (Con, Kirkburton) voted against. With Cllr Homewood being the Chair, he got the deciding vote which pushed the application over the line.