May 2013
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Supermarket to follow pub chain into Riverside? By Sandie Marshall ONE of Britian’s top three supermarkets is in the final stages of negotiations to rent the ground floor of Holmfirth’s Riverside Shopping Centre. Its intention is to open a 269msq convenience store selling groceries seven days a week. Riverside’s owner, Mr Afzal Khan says he is “90-95 per cent ready” to sign two major leases for the centre, bringing the household name supermarket to the ground floor and national pub restaurant chain JD Wetherspoons to the upper floor. Once the leases are signed, both companies would apply for planning permission from Kirklees Council to open for business – bringing a potential
100 new jobs to the Valley. To make maximum room for the supermarket, Mr Khan’s Medicare pharmacy would move from the Riverside to a new shop within Holmfirth town centre. He said: “We are just waiting for final reports to be drawn up and then the agreements can be signed. “People might think that things have gone quiet since I announced the Wetherspoons interest last year but much work has been going on behind the scenes – these deals move slowly but we are almost there now.” Mr Khan says he has received “positive feedback” from the people of Holmfirth to the idea of Wetherspoons and hopes that
residents, councillors and planners are able to recognise the opportunity for growth. He said: “Over the years we have had interest from a number of national name companies who have visited Holmfirth but have been put off by the lack of other big names in the town. “These two big brands will encourage others to look at Holmfirth as well – that will draw shoppers into the town and benefit the local businesses. “I hope that people can see this is an opportunity to move Holmfirth forward.” In other supermarket news, the date for Tesco’s Holmfirth planning appeal has been set for July – turn to page 10 for full details.
Holmfirth’s Turn Again Theatre company will be taking audiences on a side-splitting tour of British history when they bring the classic BBC sitcom Blackadder to the stage at the end of May. The group is performing episodes from series two, three and four of the hit show, made world famous by the acting genius of Rowan Atkinson and the writing talents of Atkinson and Ben Elton. Turn to page 12 for more details of the Holmfirth shows, and to find out how a Huddersfield University student has helped give the show the authentic Blackadder look. Above, Zoe Amanda Scott as Bob from Blackadder Goes Forth.