Poll shows backing for Tesco store say supporters

Since plans were revealed to build on the former Midlothian Garage site on New Mill Road the scheme has split the town with some fearing it could destroy it while others are only too anxious for the bulldozers to get on site.

And as the inspiration for the TV comedy Last of the Summer Wine, which has given the town a national identity, there are also concerns that permitting a major supermarket would spoil the town’s unique character.

There are more immediate economic concerns too, with fears that millions of pounds would be sucked out of the town centre by the retail giant affecting employment.

Both sides have fought a vocal public relations scrap over whose ideas are more closely in tune with the town’s populace.

Back in February the pro-Tesco Holme Valley Voices group sent more than 13,000 letters to residents asking if they were for or against the idea of a supermarket on the site which is just over one km away from the town centre.

The group says around 2,417 sealed responses were returned and handed over to Kirklees Council’s planning department earlier this month.

It says it then submitted these forms to Kirklees Council and that these have now been counted. The responses purportedly show 1,757 people (72.7 per cent) saying they supported the plans, and only 660 (27.3 per cent) opposing the supermarket.

Tim Radcliffe, who helped form the group, said: “It shows that people want to see a supermarket where we can do all of our shopping in Holmfirth.

“We have always thought that the majority of people in Holmfirth were in favour of Tesco developing the Midlothian site but many did not feel that they could speak out against the individuals who were noisily objecting to the application. Now people are making their voices heard.”

Holme Valley Voices group was formed earlier this year in a bid to counteract the influence of Keep Holmfirth Special, (KHS), which strenuously opposes the plans. HVV member Terry Wilson added: “We created the Holme Valley Voices group because we wanted a fair debate. For a long time we had a small unelected group of people claiming to represent the town, but we didn’t feel that they were speaking for the majority of residents such as ourselves.

“When we saw a letter going around, (from KHS), that just advised people on how to oppose the plans we decided enough was enough.

“We don’t have any money but we spoke to Tesco and asked if they’d fund a letter to residents which would give them an option to say if they were either for or against the plans.

“We’ve been completely open about this to get a fair result and even invited Keep Holmfirth Special, the MP and local councillors to be there when the letters were opened.

“The results of the letter we sent out reflect the real mood in the Valley as we gave everyone the chance to say either yes or no to Tesco.

“Now we’re looking forward to a positive decision on the plans next month so we can see some real investment and new jobs in our town.

“Hopefully councillors who will be making the decisions will sit up and take notice.” But Bill O’Brien, an officer with KHS, said: “We don’t attach a lot of value whatsoever to this, whether Kirklees Council does remains to be seen.

“These kind of results depend on what kind of questions you ask.”

He said he would be in favour of a supermarket but not one on the edge of town such as the one proposed, but one in the town centre. He added that the plans had “divided the residents which is very unfortunate. I believe that Kirklees Planning Committee will be sitting on July 12 to rule on this. I have faith in the planning officers. An out-of-town proposal such as this would, I believe, destroy the town”.

These are busy times for Tesco in the Huddersfield area. Earlier this year the Government gave the green light for plans to build a huge new store in the town centre.