Election candidates urged to back bid to save Square Chapel Arts in Halifax
Campaign group has issued a plea after of May 7 polls
Hello and welcome to a delayed edition of The Calderdale Lead.
I had a bit of a tech nightmare at the weekend so that’s why this edition is hitting your inbox late.
In today’s edition, we pick up the latest attempt to get the saga of the Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax back on the agenda.
The campaign group calling for its reopening is urging local election candidates to back the bid as they go door knocking ahead of next month’s polls.
Plus, we’ve got a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest…
Calderdale Digest
🤍 Tributes have been paid to former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Kershaw, who has died at the age of 66.
It had been announced in January that the broadcaster, who lived in Todmorden in his later years, had been diagnosed with cancer and was unable to walk.
Saying he was in "good spirits", he joked: "I am determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant and Dec. That should keep me going for a while."
Kershaw was a familiar voice on Radio 1 for 15 years from 1985, known for his eclectic taste and for helping champion world music.
Born in Rochdale in 1959, Kershaw launched his career in the early 1980s at Leeds’ Radio Aire. Following his studies at Leeds University, he served as a promotions manager, where he established a notable professional partnership with veteran broadcaster Martin Kelner.
Kershaw made a leap to national television in 1984 as the host of the BBC’s flagship rock show, The Old Grey Whistle Test. His big break was serendipitous; talent scouts spotted him while he was working on the road as a driver and roadie for singer-songwriter Billy Bragg.
By 1985, Kershaw had become a key face of the BBC’s music coverage, joining the presentation team for the historic Live Aid concert. Reporting from the star-studded event organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, he helped broadcast the global effort to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief.
After his late night Radio 1 show was axed in 2000, Kershaw went on to present across BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3.
And since moving to Todmorden, he has been a regular at the Golden Lion where he’s DJed and taken part in a wide range of events.
Owner Matthanee Nilavongse aka Gig, posted on Instagram: “Dear Andy thank you for all the knowledge in music you gave me, the friendship, the way he taught me to protect ourself, so many good times we had, my birthdays, the street party, the trip to Glastonbury, the podcast, you had so many friends and family visit you the last few weeks, you are loved, and I bet you’re so please to cuddle with Buster right now, awww !! Who’ll have little Birtie! Absolutely, an eternal memory joy and honour xx Big condolences to Dolly, Sonny, Julian, Liz, Rebecca and all his friends and family.”
🛑 A new campaign by Calderdale Council is highlighting the abuse experienced by its members of staff.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, reported incidents of aggression and verbal abuse towards Calderdale Council staff have risen by 689%.
A new film, Behind Every Role supported by a wider campaign, is a reminder that every job title represents a real person – a colleague, a neighbour, or a member of the community.
The comments featured in the film are all real and reflect the scale of abuse experienced by Council staff, and the lasting impact it can have on those on the receiving end.
Calderdale Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham, said: “As a Council, we’re responsible for so many services that impact people’s lives, from social care and education to highways and transport, planning, waste, and much more.
“Our staff interact with hundreds of residents on a daily basis, and most of those connections are appropriate and positive.
“Sadly, we’re seeing an increase in examples of violence, aggression and abuse towards our staff – something we simply do not tolerate.”
Candidates urged to put Square Chapel Arts saga on agenda
By Andrew Greaves
The Save Square Chapel Campaign is asking Calderdale Council election candidates to support efforts to reopen the Halifax arts centre.
It’s been just over 12 months since the centre, next to the town’s Piece Hall, was suddenly closed by Wigan-based operators Square Chapel CIC.
The centre had admitted before closure that there were “a number of artists” who had not been paid following performances there.
Now, the campaign group behind efforts to reopen the centre have written to all the major political party leaders in the borough with a plea for support ahead of the May 7 elections.
The campaign has also published a template local people can use to contact their candidates to ask them to take up Square Chapel.
Last summer, a petition organised by Equity trade union seeking to secure the reopening of the building was signed by 2,000 people and almost 100 attended a public meeting to rally support.
Sandra Shearn, on the campaign’s convenors, said: “Many individuals and organisations have expressed interest and support in reviving the space; we need Arts Council England to bring about change by enforcing the charge they have which requires that the building be used as an arts centre.
“We will keep on with the campaign until Square Chapel is back where it belongs – at the heart of the creative arts in Calderdale.”
Questions have been raised on a number of occasions at meetings of Calderdale Council and the authority has said it is willing to support the reopening but its hands are effectively tied.
Responding to a question from Ms Shearn last July, Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Danielle Durrans, said: “Arts Council England would have primary responsibility for taking decisions on future use or disposals with the owner and any administrator, receiver or other insolvency practitioner that may be appointed.
“Officers are aware of the current position in respect of the operator and have been in discussion with Arts Council England representatives on the future of the building.
“Whilst the council would like to be involved and support the decisions on the future of the arts centre, it doesn’t have any direct responsibility for the process or how it will be managed.”
All 54 seats on Calderdale Council are up for election next month, a rare occurrence that has come about due to boundary changes for some wards.
Anyone wanting an email version of the template to send to candidates should email savesquarechapel@gmail.com.
That’s all for this edition!
I’ll be back in your inboxes at the weekend but don’t forget, if there’s something you’d like me to cover - or you have an event you want us to promote - then don’t hesitate to drop me a line at calderdale@thelead.uk.
Until the weekend, have a great week!
Andrew