Kirklees Council has taken decisive action to remove illegal and potentially unsafe structures from the highway
We have removed a set of ornamental lighting columns that had been placed outside the Plumber’s arms on McCauley Street Huddersfield without planning or highways authority consent
In July council officers began investigating other planning breaches on site, including the placement of benches in a public space. At this time the officers responsible for enforcement found that the pub landlord had removed council bollards without permission or consent and fixed decorative lampposts to the highway without the necessary permissions and that these were neither structurally nor electrically sound.
The council requested that the lampposts and seating were removed from the highway in July, and as this has not taken place the council has now removed them. Once on site, the contractors found the columns to be both structurally and electrically unsafe. They isolated the columns from the electric supply and taken down to a safe height.
The top part of the lampposts have been removed and placed them in storage. The council wants to reassure the public that they have followed the correct legal procedure for removing the illegally placed street furniture and will respond accordingly to any complaints from the business owner and consider any requests for payment. They will also be pursuing the costs of removing the decorative lampposts.
If the benches which have been the subject of a number of anti-social behaviour complaints, are not removed, then they will also be taken into storage by the council.
A Kirklees Council spokesperson said:
“The safety of the public is of paramount importance and we have carried out these actions to prevent any accidents or injury. We remain committed to working with businesses who are willing to follow the correct procedures before making changes. Planning and licensing legislation is in place to protect everyone. It provides a level playing field for landowners and businesses to make improvements and provides the opportunity for residents and officials to object to things that will negatively impact on the environment, public safety and quality of life. Anyone acting outside of these rules could be seen as showing a lack of respect for both public opinion and safety. We will consider any applications for retrospective planning permission through the usual process, however retrospective applications do not legitimise what has been done and it is right that these items should be removed for public safety. The council will always work to ensure that a fair balance is provided to support businesses and the economy but must balance this with protecting public safety.”
As usual another Kirklees mess. The Plumbers Arms looks 100 times better than it did. It has always been a popular pub – meeting place/sports venue and being near to the ring road /bus station/train station was a plus for visitors IF WE EVER GET ANY it can only be a plus. I catch my bus there and all comments I have heard are for the improvements but it needs strict monitoring from the people who make it there lives work to spoil it for others. KIRKLEES WAKEN UP!
they should not have been removed without landlord consent and they made a lovely display and they where not in breach oh health and safety
Kirklees together NOT !!!
people want them why not put some lights back up safely then ,?and give the plumbers some support,you will be respected for it in times of covid you should be helping businesses, not fighting them .as for the benches you have some there ,🤔🤔🤔.
When was the last time you walked past there?
Next time for me it will unfortunately be in darkness. Bet you never have!
They were so structurally unsound that your removal team failed to remove them, and instead left them structurally unsound. Well done. (Slow clap)
I hope the council Are going to sort Trinity street out as well?
Well done, Kirklees. What a pity you were so slow removing the travellers that illegally occupied land at Grange Moor recently…..
Diabolical behaviour Kirklees,wheres your support for struggling businesses,where are our local councillors? Retrospective planning has been applied for,why couldnt you leave things as they were until a final decision had been made. The public pay for you to act on our behalf… you havent done this in my name!
Personally I believe by removing the lights you have set this area back safety wise for people walking to the bus station in the winter months.
It’s back to being dark and miserable
As for anti social behaviour please tell me when exactly this was because we don’t know of any only the beggars and drug users you’ve sent up from down at the church gardens that we have to put up with every day..
Council need to come check that out before talking about the benches..
Kim walker and Martin from environmental health was there that day when they came up with the letter to remove the benches and saw it with there own eyes..
the benches are the best thing that happened to Macaulay street…So I have cctv footage of the benches area,what dates have you got where this anti social behaviour took place? I know you will have it on your cameras too and will find it is all at the top under the bus station canopy…
What a shame. At least the lamp posts etc added character to an otherwise “dead” looking part of town. Pity the Council couldn’t work together with the landlord to achieve a resolution. And no, I’m not affiliated with the establishment and never have been inside it.
Well done about time. enforce all planning law in fact all breaches of law
a pity you don’t use your time catching all the joy riders on all roads. A menace especially in the school hols. Far more of a nuisance that stationary benches.