Dewsbury business chief's 'anger and 'despair' following damage to Victorian market

Paul Ellis, President of Dewsbury Chamber of Trade, has blasted the damage caused to the entrance to Dewsbury Market, on Cloth Hall Street, calling the people responsible 'idiots'.

In response, Kirklees Council are ramping up efforts asking for witnesses or anybody with information to come forward to pass it onto West Yorkshire Police.

Mr Ellis said: "I'm angry and in despair that these idiots can just walk around the town centre and in a matter of minutes do so much damage without anybody seeing or hearing it happen.

"The Chamber of Trade in the last few months have had positive talks with Kirklees for additional cameras and it will be on the next agenda of the Safer Dewsbury meeting.

"New CCTV surveillance will be installed soon. Work has started on the refurbishment of Dewsbury Arcade and soon to be announced market."

The market only reopened in June after closing for three months due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Councillor Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Following an incident of anti-social behaviour the council has removed a number of broken glass panes from the market hall and boarded it up whilst the replacement glass is on order.

"The council remains committed to the development of Dewsbury as a safe and family friendly town as laid out in the Dewsbury Blueprint.

"I firmly believe that as these plans develop the increase in activity in town during the day and into the evening will see these types of incidents reduce.

"In the meantime Safer Kirklees which is a partnership between Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Police are working together to identify the people responsible and to reduce the anti-social behaviour taking place in the town. We are also working closely with the detached youth work team.

"I would encourage anyone who witnesses a crime or anti-social behaviour to report it online, this is quick and easy.

"Police resources like all public services are stretched, so while you may not always see an immediate result, gathering public reports and evidence of trends is incredibly important when it comes to making arrests and building cases."

If you have any information on the incident, contact police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymous on 0800 555 111.