Council warned of 'narrow vision' in gasworks row

KIRKLEES Council has been warned not to limit itself to one “narrow vision” as the row over the future use of Huddersfield’s gasworks site rumbles on.

- By ABIGAIL MARLOW

Last month's signing of the Accu Stadium deal saw the council and the Huddersfield Giants hand over their shares to Huddersfield Town, which took on full operational control of the venue and its surrounding 53 acres. At the same time, the council became the official owner of the crucial gasworks site.

It is well known the former gasworks is the preferred site of Huddersfield Giants’ owner Ken Davy for developing a new purpose-built stadium for the Super League Club.

The council has other plans, with the site a central part of the Station to Stadium Corridor and West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone.

But not all elected members are on board with this vision, with some believing that a new stadium in this location could be of greater benefit.

At Wednesday's full council meeting, Clr David Longstaff (Lib Dems, Almondbury) said he feared Huddersfield could lose an important part of its heritage depending on how the issue plays out.