PROGRESS on regenerating the area in and around Halifax Piece Hall has been painfully slow and it is time to get something moving, a councillor claims.
"Sitting in meetings saying that the Piece Hall is the jewel in Calderdale's crown is not enough – we want to see action to back up these words," said Liberal Democrat group leader Janet Battye.
She was responding to a decision by Calderdale Council Cabinet to commission consultants to come up with detailed proposals for the Piece Hall and nearby land and buildings, and to create links with the railway station and the Eureka Children's Museum.
It would form part of a "master plan" for Halifax and Yorkshire Forward is expected to contribute towards the costs involved, which are put at about £320,000.
"Yet again the proposal is to employ consultants to tell us what to do," said Coun Battye (Calder).
"This highlights real concerns about the capacity of the council to take on these projects and finish them successfully."
The Heritage Lottery Fund has promised £600,000 for improving the Piece Hall once a sustainable plan for restoring and regenerating it is in place, although the total bill could be closer to £4 million.
Vision of a future Halifax focuses on Piece Hall area.The full article contains 221 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
