Mystery of demolition gear at listed mills; 'No plans to knock anything more down'

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), May 15, 2008

Byline: By BARRY GIBSON News Reporter

A COUNCILLOR is demanding answers after demolition machinery was spotted near a Huddersfield landmark.

Clr Andrew Cooper said a heavy track vehiclewas discovered near the listed buildings of Newsome Mills.

Developer Royalle Estates has planning permission to build town houses and convert the mill building into flats.

Some buildings have already been legally demolished. But the remaining structure, including the weaving sheds and the mill with its famous clock, are listed.

Clr Cooper said: "On Saturday a resident informed me that there was a heavy track vehicle on the site.

"We went up to investigate and were told that the vehicle had run out of diesel and was not there to demolish anything."

But Clr Cooper is unconvinced by the explanation.

The Newsome Green party councillor said: "It didn't ring true. Why go to the trouble of actually putting the vehicle above the banked earth?

"If they simply needed a place to stop and fill up with diesel they could have left it on the road below or driven it on a low loader to a garage.

"It was suspicious and I've asked the developer for an explanation."

But Phil Metcalf, of Royalle Estates, said: "We have no plans to demolish any more buildings on the site."

In 2006 Kirklees Council gave the Manchester-based company permission to build 15 townhouses and 11 two-bedroom apartments on the Ruth Street site.

The developer was also given planning permission to convert the mill building into 45 one and two-bedroom apartments.

Newsome Mills was founded in 1827 and occupied by textile firm Taylor and Littlewood. In recent years the mill has housed various businesses.

CAPTION(S):

'SUSPICIOUS': Excavator at Newsome Mills (S)