It's time to imagine the Hebden Bridge of the future
Thursday, 29 January 2015
2015 is the year for thinking about how to make Hebden Bridge an even better place to live, work and visit.
There will be lots going on.
A group of Architect students from Huddersfield University will be spending some months here helping residents think about new buildings we might need. They are inviting residents to attend a workshop entitled 'Hebden Bridge Vision: The Big Conversation' in the Waterfront Hall on Saturday 31st January, 1-3pm.
This is followed on Monday Feb 2nd at 7.30 in the Terrace Room of the Town Hall by the Winter Public Meeting of the Hebden Bridge Partnership. At this meeting the Mayor, Jonathon Timbers, will outline how the HRTC and the Hilltop Parishes intend to develop a Neighbourhood plan in the coming months. Then the meeting will focus on the Alternatives to Sainsbury for Valley Road. Members of the SOS campaign will be present.
Sainsbury and the Old Fire Station site owners have until March to appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a Sainsbury local. If they don't appeal the site owners will be looking for an alternative way to develop that site. If they do appeal the outcome of that appeal might be influenced to uphold the refusal if the town has by then lined up behind a commercially viable alternative for the site.
Bob Deacon, Chair of the Hebden Bridge Partnership says "The opportunity exists to redevelop the Valley Road site in a much more creative way.
"If Calderdale MBC, who own the car park, Eshton Gregory who own the Fire Station site and BT who own the under-used BT telephone exchange site and the newly formed Community Land Trust put their heads and resources together it is possible to imagine a holistic development including open space, affordable housing, car parking and buildings for public use.
"We have been in touch with the site owners and CMBC to begin these discussions".
Bob Deacon added that his hope is that with the initiative of the Huddersfield students, the energy of the SOS campaign and the track record of the HB Partnership, together we can, during the next months, create a viable alternative of which Hebden Bridge can be proud.
