SPEN VALLEY CIVIC SOCIETY

SAVOY SITE PROJECT

The Problem

For many years there has been a substantial piece of derelict land, directly opposite the Town Hall, right in the centre of Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire. This quickly became known locally as the Savoy site. The name was taken from the Savoy cinema - one of the larger premises that stood on the site.

The townspeople have patiently endured this eyesore while various owners, over the years, have tried to decide what to do with it.

The Spen Valley Civic Society wanted permission to tidy the site while its future was being decided.

SUPERMARKET PLANS HIT THE ROCKS...THEN THE CIVIC SOCIETY MOVED IN

13 June 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

Several budget supermarkets, such as Netto and KwikSave expressed interest in the Savoy site, and in the mid 1990s it seemed the eyesore would finally be removed when a land-swap deal was mooted between Bastion and Kirklees Council.

In exchanging the Savoy site for the St John's car park, Bastion said they would buy the Market Arcade and refurbish it. The Savoy and market sites would be converted into a new market area with parking for 85 cars, and a small supermarket would be built on the St John's car park. But again the plans foundered.

Finally in 2000 the land was bought by Plessey Investments on behalf of Tesco. The supermarket promised to develop it into a town hall square as part of its planning application for a new superstore in St Peg Lane. The plan was given the go-ahead by Kirklees but was called in for a public inquiry by the Secretary of State because it was an "out of town development". Following the inquiry in the summer of 2001 it was rejected – and the future of the Savoy site was once again thrown into doubt.

Frustrated by the inability of the various owners to develop the site over the years, Spen Valley Civic Society chairman Max Rathmell lodged an audacious bid to reclaim the land as a temporary park for the people of Cleckheaton.

The society's planning application was approved, negotiations were carried out with Tesco to secure permission and at the beginning of April the hoardings were ripped down, the site levelled and landscaping work begun.

Below are the views we have had to endure for over 12 years right in the heart of Cleckheaton - that is until March 2003.

And then…

Day 1 - Friday 14^th March 2003

The hoardings are removed at last! Straight up with the Heras security fencing.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! SAVOY SITE REVEALED

By Jo Haywood 21 March 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

The ongoing transformation of Cleckheaton's eyesore Savoy Site is now clear for all to see after the hoardings, which have been a source of controversy for years, were finally removed on Friday. The wooden boards, which have surrounded the site since the old cinema was demolished 13 years ago, have been replaced by mesh fencing to allow Kirklees Council access to restore the inside kerb of the pavements.

Members of the Spen Valley Civic Society have worked tirelessly to get something constructive done with the land, which is owned by Tesco. The removal of the hoardings has given many their first glimpse of the site since it was filled in and levelled.

During the work that has already been completed an ancient well, full of water, was uncovered in the middle of the site. It has been capped, but water burst out from underneath so it has been partially drained. New hoardings put up at the back of the site, to mask the scaffolding supporting the burned out market arcade, are now visible, but they will soon be decorated with a mural by students at Dewsbury Art College.

Kirklees is due to complete work on the inside kerb of the pavements this weekend, leaving members of the civic society free to continue filling the holes to the new kerb level, and install some permanent knee-high fencing.

So far work on landscaping the site has stayed on target and civic society chairman Max Rathmell said hoped it would be finished by Spring Bank.

Spen Valley Area Committee has given just under £20,000 to pay for the landscaping work. It is hoped that by the end of May Cleckheaton will then have its long-awaited town square – a park area with grass, paths, benches and a flower bed.

Cleckheaton Construction came in to give us a hand to break up the old tarmac.

SAVOY SITE MAY FIND A NEW ROLE IN THE FOLK FESTIVAL

By Margaret Heward 24 March 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

The Savoy site renovation plans could be amended to include a larger central hard-surfaced area to accommodate street entertainers for events such as the Cleckheaton Folk Festival.

The changes were revealed on Thursday at a meeting of the Spen Valley Civic Society, which is undertaking the project on the old cinema site.

Chairman Max Rathmell said: "In discussions with various people who have called at the site to say what a good job we are doing, some have suggested we make a bigger space in the middle of the site so it could be used for outside performing for such as the folk festival. "I have suggested to Kirklees that it might be better and we'll see what happens."

Mr Rathmell told members that work was going to plan, despite the fact that workers from Cleckheaton Construction had discovered an ancient well during the levelling of the site.

They had taken pictures of the stone-lined well, which was full of water, before capping it. It was believed the well could be hundreds of years old.

Members said that in 19th century history books the site was referred to as the town's original market place, and it was also believed that a Tudor building stood there before the cinema was built.

Since the hoardings came down a fortnight ago, a new temporary security fence has been erected and kerb edging put in place by Kirklees Council.

Civic society members were back on site on Monday to begin installing timber fencing around the perimeter, and put up a banner promoting the scheme as a civic society environmental project.

But the main work will be carried out in a few weeks' time with the laying of the paths, top soil and turf. "It will probably involve a constant flow of volunteers who are able to do at least a day each," said Mr Rathmell. "That will start on April 12 and hopefully we will finish by Good Friday. If not we will have the weekend – excluding Easter Sunday – to complete.

"All being well the temporary fencing will come down the first week in May."

Guardian and Herald readers have continued to suggest ideas for the mural to be painted on the hoardings covering the scaffolding which is supporting the fire-damaged Market Arcade.

The civic society's own suggestion is for a painting of a Panther motorbike – the Phelon and Moore factory was across the road from the Savoy cinema in Horncastle Street – along with a reproduction of a 1930s Panther advertisement.

• Other suggestions which have reached the Guardian and Herald offices this week have been passed on to Spenborough Chamber of Trade president Keith Joplin who is co-ordinating the mural project.

ATA Builders and Plumbers Merchants popped in to lift some of the more substantial tree roots into the skip.

A couple of weeks have now gone by. Max Rathmell and Donal O'Driscoll had given up a couple of weekends and some evenings to install the Birds Mouth wooden fencing around the site. Council workers have also laid new paving on Bradford Road and Albion Street and laid new tarmac on the path of Horncastle Street.

HELP NEEDED FOR HISTORY FILM PROJECT

By Margaret Heward 08 April 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

An ambitious scheme to tell Spen's history on 'film' is underway – and organisers want Guardian and Herald readers to get involved.

Gomersal artist Stephen Barlow is to oversee a project to paint a huge mural on the new hoardings at the Savoy site which is currently being landscaped by Spen Valley Civic Society.

Spenborough Chamber of Trade president Keith Joplin is organising the painting of the mural and recently asked readers for suggestions as to what to include. He was delighted with the response and the ideas have now been discussed with Stephen.

Suggestions included paintings of the Panther motorbike which was manufactured in the town, the Luddites, the Chartists, rope-making for which the town was nationally renowned, the Brontes, Lion Confectionery, transport, the viaduct and Mann Dam and the 'plug rioters' at Roundhill Mills.

 Mr Joplin told a Chamber meeting on Tuesday that all the ideas could be pulled together under another suggestion by the Guardian and Herald. "The site was originally the Savoy cinema and the Guardian staff suggested a reel of film going across the mural telling the story of the Spen Valley," he said.

"Stephen has agreed to take on the theme and the reel would have around individual frames – each measuring six feet by four feet – and into these frames could be put the ideas that Guardian readers have suggested. We would end up with 15 different scenes depicting Spenborough over the years."

 The paintings would be done off site on boards by various interested groups, with Stephen's help and guidance, and when complete they would be specially laminated to protect them from vandalism and the elements before being mounted in the frames.

"By the time the landscaping is finished there might be a few completed paintings, and while we are waiting for the rest to be completed we would have signs saying the space was reserved for, say, Whitcliffe Mount School," said Keith.

 "We now want to appeal, through the Guardian and Herald, for organisations to come forward to represent and paint each of these frames and when complete we will have a series of pictures all coming together to tell the story on a reel of film. Under each one will be a dedication to the people who have done them.

"The sequel to it all will be the recreation of the entrance to the Savoy cinema around the corner in Albion Street which Stephen will paint. "I think it will be absolutely fantastic and will complement the whole Civic Society project." 

It's Friday the 11th of April 2003 and work starts again in earnest. We've just managed to get the sub-soil spread out when numerous wagon loads of top soil start turning up. It turns out we're going to have a mini heat wave for the next 8 days!

SAVOY SQUARE TAKES SHAPE

By Margaret Heward.17 April 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

The landscaping of Cleckheaton's Savoy site began to take real shape this week with the completion of the fencing and laying of paths and topsoil.

Volunteers have been on site for much of the week shovelling, barrowing and raking topsoil and spreading aggregate in preparation for the laying of the paths and turf which will now follow.

Spen Valley Civic Society members, who are spearheading the project, urged volunteers to come forward to help with the manual work, and although appeals in the Guardian and Herald and on roadside hoardings did generate some interest, the response was quite disappointing.

Nevertheless the society and the volunteers who did respond toiled throughout the mini heatwave and great progress was made during the week.

Among the volunteers was Spen MP Mike Wood who said what the civic society had achieved in transforming the derelict eyesore site into a landscaped public square was "absolutely wonderful" and he was delighted to be contributing to their effort.

Civic society chairman Max Rathmell said: "We've constructed the paths, spread the soil, co-ordinated lorry loads of materials, and concreted a piece in the corner for a sculpture of a cinema reel which will be placed on the original cornerstone of the building. "It is coming together. As soon as we got the two paths in we could suddenly see it taking shape."

The volunteers reported a positive response from members of the public who were delighted to see something being done with the site after it had been derelict for 13 years.

To further enhance the scheme Kirklees workmen have re-laid the pavement surrounding the site with paving stones and Metro have confirmed that they have plans to install a bus shelter at the stop in Bradford Road.

At last the Savoy Square is beginning to take shape

ALL HANDS ON DECK! The Chairman the Civic Society, Max Rathmell, rolls the new paths while the President of the Spen Chamber of Commerce, Keith Joplin, works on the path frames.

3pm on Good Friday afternoon and the turf finally turns up. The top soil has to be well watered before the turf can be laid.

Bradford Road is the first section to be completed…

…followed by Albion Street and eventually…

WHAT A TRANSFORMATION!

By Margaret Heward.25 April 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

The Savoy site transformation is almost complete – but it will be another few weeks before members of the public can stroll across the newly landscaped square.

Spen Valley Civic Society members and volunteers toiled throughout last week to move mountains of earth and aggregate to create four turfed areas criss-crossed with paths.

On some days they were there for up to 12 hours – during a week which saw the hottest April temperatures for many years.

Chairman of Spen Valley Civic Society Max Rathmell said he was pleased with the outcome. "It's been very hard work – and I've lost seven pounds in weight!" he said. However he added that the site was not yet ready to be opened to the public.

"It takes three weeks for the turf to send its roots down into the soil underneath. It has to bed down and with the dry weather we're having, it could be even longer," he explained. "It was bone dry to start with and we're having to do an awful lot of watering. There are a few other jobs still to do such as planting up the two rose beds, installing the bench and sculpture and the painting of the mural."

 Fellow Civic Society member Donal O'Driscoll said everything had gone to schedule. "It has been a massive effort by those involved. We were a little disappointed with the amount of support we had, because it meant we had to put in some really serious graft to keep it on schedule," he said. "We were on site from 8am-5pm most days, but on others it was longer than that. We had a hard core of reliable volunteers and we thank them for their help.

 "It has actually turned out better than we originally hoped because back in November we were talking about just an aggregate surface over the entire site which would have looked like a car park. We precluded turf because we didn't think the council could provide the maintenance. However the council said they would look after it and we thank them for that. Kirklees Building Control department have been very helpful – in particular chief building surveyor Kevin Kendall.

 "The majority of people passing as we've been working have said it's absolutely fantastic and long overdue. Once the turf went down you could really see it taking shape and people were looking in and smiling. "It will be a hard project to follow, because of all the projects the Civic Society has done, it really is the jewel in its crown."

 The Civic Society is looking for corporate sponsorship to help fund the extra works on the site such as flower beds and the bench. Anyone who can help can contact (01274) 870072 or (01924) 409855.

It’s time to install the benches – with the help of Councillor Gordon North

We’re nearly there.

The evening before the official opening…

Donal O'Driscoll and Max Rathmell do the finishing touches.

FRIENDLY FACE HIDDEN UNDER A CARBUNCLE

By Margaret Heward.13 June 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

Former usherettes Hilda Asher and Audrey Tonks received top billing at the official opening of the Savoy Square on Saturday.

Spen Valley Civic Society invited the two women, who worked at the Savoy in the 1930s, to unveil the camera sculpture which has been mounted on the original cornerstone of the cinema marking the completion of the landscaping project.

Chairman Max Rathmell welcomed them and other guests to the ceremony which celebrated a remarkable achievement by the society and volunteer helpers.

He told them: "It is a very rare event when a new public park is opened. We have the public spirited Victorians to thank for most of our parks. Nowadays commercial development is just as likely to remove a park as provide a new one.

"When Walter Goodall opened his Savoy Cinema in 1923 – scarcely a lifetime ago, he couldn't possibly anticipate its fate. Within 50 years it would close, later to become a public square. Where teenagers canoodled in the dark, they would one day do it in broad daylight watched from the Bradford bus! Films with stereo sound and in full colour would be watched on 40 million television screens in every home in the land." He admitted the society's bid to transform the site was a bold one – given that they did not own the land – but with a great deal of tenacity they had succeeded.

"When I first floated the idea that the Civic Society could reclaim this site there were a few quiet moments from our committee. I could see it in their faces. 'He's mad' they were thinking," he said.

"The planners and Tesco treated our planning application as a joke. When I said we'd appeal to the Government if it wasn't approved the mood changed. It dawned on the most astute people that here was a way out of the massive embarrassment."

He said around 150 people had been involved in making the project work and he and the society were grateful for everyone's efforts. "To steal the words of Prince Charles, together we have all removed the carbuncle from the face of a much loved friend," he concluded.

Former usherettes Hilda Asher and Audrey Tonks performing the unveiling and declaring the Savoy Square officially opened.

Kirklees chief building surveyor Kevin Kendall, who liaised with the society on the project, said: "This is a magnificent achievement and I am very, very pleased that it is accessible for everyone in the community whatever their ability or disability."

After the ceremony MP Mike Wood, who was also one of the volunteers, said: "It is absolutely fabulous and what it brings home is why did we put up with the eyesore for so long?

"It would not have been done without the determination, commitment and hard work of that small number of people in the Civic Society who have made this into a reality and my congratulations go to them and everyone who has had anything to do with the project. "It has already had an impact on the town centre and since the boards were taken down it has made an incredible difference to Bradford Road which is the main arterial road into the town."

Some of the first people to enjoy the square.

* The Savoy Square is for the public to use and enjoy and its running and maintenance has now been taken over by Kirklees Council.

Any groups or societies wanting to use it for public displays, fetes, bazaars, garden parties etc should contact Doug Holliday at the Kirklees licensing department on (01484) 223470.

A HAPPY ENDING AT LAST TO AN EPIC TALE

13 June 2003 - Reproduced with kind permission of the Guardian and Herald

The Savoy Site Saga is a story as long as the epic Gone With the Wind - a film which would have played to massive audiences during the cinema's heyday.

The plot has all the essential ingredients of a blockbuster – a man's ambitions of bringing moving pictures to the town, a crumbling empire, secret negotiations, land-swap deals, legal wrangles and intrigue.

For over 50 years the Savoy cinema confronted, challenged and for a time overcame a succession of media innovations such as radio and television, but in the 1970s it finally succumbed to its opposition and the reels stopped rolling.

While the cinema itself is now consigned to the history books, its name lives on in the new public Savoy Square which has been created by Spen Valley Civic Society.

However the story is not destined to end here. Over the coming weeks the site will be further enhanced by paintings which will be incorporated into the frames of the film reel on the mural spanning the site.

Local artist Stephen Barlow putting the finishing touches to the re-created Savoy cinema entrance

And in years to come the park could well be reclaimed by owners Tesco who may eventually want to develop it for their own purposes.

But in the meantime, let us applaud the work of the Civic Society, enjoy the town's newest attraction – and await the Savoy Site Saga: the Sequel.

The before and afters