Almondbury Ward Cllr Candidate Robert McGuin & Bernard McGuin - Castle Hill Update

Castle Hill sit's in the Almondbury Ward. You may have heard a  Councillor for Almondbury Ward resigned less than 2 months into the role causing a By Election costing you the taxpayer £25,000 and an Election will take place on Thursday August 13th.

I have campaigned with my Father EX Almondbury Ward Cllr Bernard McGuin for years to protect Castle Hill from inappropriate  oversized commercialised development. The Election gives an opportunity for local residents to Elect a Councillor to represent Almondbury Ward who will champion in the local community, at Huddersfield Town Hall and Kirklees Council to stop this inappropriate oversized development from the Thandi Partnerhship. We need someone who be vocal for Almondbury Ward, Huddersfield, work with  local residents and the wider community to campaign to protect Castle Hill. 

That is why after careful consideration, I will be putting myself forward as a Candidate for the Almondbury Ward By Election. Working with Bernard McGuin and local residents over the years I have the knowledge and experience to continue the fight to the very end. 

Kirklees Council passed a planning application by the Thandi Partnership at Castle Hill. This was after a tied vote and the Chair having the casting vote. We want to say “Thank you” to 3,965 local residents who have signed this petition. We are so close to an amazing 4,000 local residents signatures. Please continue to sign and share this petition. https://www.change.org/p/kirklees-metropolitan-council-do-you-want-to-protect-castle-hill

There have been big changes at Kirklees Council in the all out election in May. So there is a need to elect a Councillor who will campaign on this issue. If there is enough public opposition we can get this debated, when plans will have to come back including the main issue of the road access which is currently not suitable. To expand the road network, it will need to interfere with the ancient monument which will be hard to believe Historic England will be for but then again after years of them opposing plans they changed their view, so it can’t be guaranteed. With a change of personnel on the council and in less than a months time the people of Almondbury Ward will get a chance to elect a Councillor who raise your concerns, objections to this inappropriate development and there is a chance of different views than the one currently held by Kirklees Council of building a hotel/restaurant on a national monument, in the green belt in the proximity of a listed building: Victoria Tower which can lead to consequences for wildlife and the local environment.

The Thandi Partnership require Scheduled Monument Consent which Historic England manages on behalf of the government. Historic England shifted from opposing the plans to supporting them in August 2025, provided that the Thandi Partnership’s business plan is independently verified and that they secure all necessary statutory approvals.

Until Historic England approves the business plan the fight we will continue against oversized development on Huddersfield’s most famous land mark, Castle Hill.

Almondbury Ward Cllr Candidate -Robert McGuin & Local Campaigner Bernard McGuin
Facebook: facebook.com/rmcguin Email: robert.mcguin@hotmail.co.uk Website: bernardmcguin.wordpress.com Twitter: x.com/robmcguin