Water firm’s ‘cheap’ plan for historic Huddersfield spillway

Diane Ellis, of Save Butterley Spillway group, made the comment on the final day of a planning inquiry.

The firm is appealing against a council decision to reject plans to use concrete to replace parts of the stone spillway at Marsden, near Huddersfield.

Mrs Ellis claimed the company “greatly underestimated” the heritage value of the listed structure.

The firm said the proposed solution was not the “cheapest and easiest” option of 12 it looked at but was the “only one that meets the requirements of the Reservoirs Act 1975 and places the safety of people and property in Marsden as our highest priority. We have considered heritage throughout but have placed safety first.”