‘Have a say’ plea on hill fort scheme

And now a local councillor wants residents to urgently make their views known to planning officers.

The application, by brothers Mick and Barry Thandi, is for a pub and hotel at Castle Hill, a Scheduled Ancient Monument at Almondbury, Huddersfield.

Their plan to put a pub on the site was rejected in 2010 and again in October this year when seven out of 15 councillors voted in favour, with eight against.

The latest application includes a proposal to improve access by the use of traffic lights to control vehicle movements on a narrow track which leads to the site.

There used to be a pub at the site but it was demolished and re-built in breach of planning conditions.

Enforcement action forced the Thandis to take down the half-built structure.

Heritage experts have opposed previous plans but, to date, none have come forward to object to the latest plan.

The deadline for objections is December 27.

In October, the proposals were backed by 71 letters of support, with only 17 against.

Yesterday, local Lib Dem councillor Phil Scott said the future of the site and the pub plans were “still very much in people’s minds” and he expected the council to start receiving comments shortly.

He believes that the site is lacking facilities and would benefit from something like a pub.

Coun Scott says the majority of people wanted to see a pub built. It would encourage visitors and reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.