A PROMINENT town centre square could potentially be at risk after its owner signalled its plans to sell the land.

Savoy Square in Cleckheaton is regularly used for popular public events and is one of two green spaces in the town’s centre.

The square was formerly home to the Savoy cinema, but when the cinema closed and was demolished it sat derelict for a number of years until plans from the Spen Valley Civic Society saw it transformed into a public space, which has grown in popularity in the town and is regularly used to hold events.

The site is split in two, with two-thirds owned by Tesco, which has a large supermarket in the centre of the town, and one third owned by Kirklees Council.

Now, Tesco is looking to sell its portion of the square, meaning the future of the square could hang in the balance.

Community Interest Groups have been invited to submit bids for the site, and have a deadline of January 11 to give intention, with no details of a bid required.

Any CIGs that bid then have until May 31 to negotiate with the owner over the sale and raise funds in necessary.

If no CIGs come forward or a deal cannot be reached, the owner is then free to sell the land to anyone by the end of a protected period which lasts until May 31, 2022.

This could result in a private firm buying the land and building on it in years to come.

Spen Valley Civic Society played a key role in the creation of the square, but said it has no plans to bid for the site.

A spokesperson said: “This town centre space once housed the Savoy Cinema, and when it was demolished in the 1980’s, the site stood derelict and overgrown, an eyesore.

“The land is part-owned by the Council and part by Tesco. We obtained permission from both to develop it for community use.

“After hundreds of hours work by volunteers, Savoy Square was ‘born’ in 2003. It completely transformed the town centre: a new public open space and an improved setting for our Grade 2 Listed Town Hall.

“Since then, the square has hosted regular community events including Cleckheaton Folk Festival, Community Choir concerts, Spenborough Chamber of Trade’s events, the Council’s Christmas tree and big Lights switch-on celebrations.

“We wanted to protect Savoy Square for future community use, and succeeded in getting it designated as an Asset of Community Value in 2015.

“More recently we got it designated as Local Green Space in Kirklees Council’s Local Plan, adopted in 2019. This will protect Savoy Square for the next 20 years.

“The Civic Society has no plans to bid for an asset transfer of the part of Savoy Square owned by Tesco. We are currently working with the Council to develop a project which would see trees being planted on the Horncastle Street side of the square as a memorial garden to local people who’ve lost their lives in the Covid pandemic, and as a tribute to front-line workers in Spen Valley.

“We are reasonably confident that our proposal will be successful. In a post-Covid era, outdoor community events will be even more important for the public’s health.”

Any Community Interest Groups which are interested in the land are asked to contact Kirklees Council.