Latest news with #RichardBurns
Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Declining' UK town set for tourist boom as £22.5m revamp takes step forward
A 'rundown' UK town that locals say has 'gone downhill' has been granted planning permission for two major upgrades in what has been described as a 'huge milestone' A tiny 'rundown' town that has grappled with its reputation for years is slated for a major transformation to the tune of £22.5 million. Conveniently located between Leeds and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, Dewsbury boasts a rich historical heritage - visible with its impressive Victorian-era architecture and parish church. While some may consider the region charming and under-appreciated - locals say Dewsbury has rapidly gone downhill. Branded a ' ghost town ' due to its failing high-street and struggling market, residents have even gone as far as warning Brits not to visit. "We have lost all of our independent shops - there are no small independents anymore," Richard Burns, who has been trading on the town's market for more than 60 years, told Yorkshire Live. "If you look at this side of town (by the market), it is basically all takeaways. There's nothing to draw people into Dewsbury. If you come on a day when the market isn't open, there's no one walking around the town. Talks of regenerating the town have been in the air since 2018, casting doubt on whether they'll ever come to fruition. However, last week (Tuesday, June 17) Kirklees Council announced planning permission had been granted for two key projects within the Dewsbury Blueprint - a 10-year plan that aims to bolster the attractiveness and accessibility of the town. This consists of creating a new town park, which will be the largest green space within the centre - and is set to feature a dedicated outdoor area for children to 'safely play and socialise'. "The approved plans include lots of open green spaces, seating and a substantial, partially enclosed play area, which will benefit from lots of interesting features for children of all ages to engage with and enjoy," Kirklees Council said. "The plans also allow for potential water features, which could provide both a relaxing element for those enjoying the park and an interactive feature for the play area. There will also be an opportunity to include more art, with involvement from the local community." Dewsbury Market will also get a huge upgrade, with new demountable stalls that will allow for both an outdoor market area and a 'flexible space to support events'. The indoor market will also be kitted out for a 'variety' of different markets and events, while maintaining the building's 'beautiful historic structure and character'. "Now accepted, the plans for Dewsbury Market will create a more varied, day-to-night offering in Dewsbury town centre," Kirklees Council added. "We aim to continue and improve the traditional market offering, whilst at the same time creating more areas for eating, drinking, socialising and events, giving people as many reasons as possible to visit Dewsbury." Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, hailed the announcement - stating it is an 'incredibly exciting time' for the town. "Once we unveiled our updated plans for Dewsbury Market, the adjoining park was very much the missing piece," he added. "These are both aspects of the town we know local people greatly care about, and they have a huge part to play in Dewsbury's future. This approved planning application marries these two key elements within our Dewsbury Blueprint, and shows how different this part of town is going to look within the next few years – not even taking into account the amount of work we're doing elsewhere in the town centre." Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board, also welcomed the planning permission approval, describing it as a 'huge milestone' for both Debwsbury Market and the new town park. "These are plans that will truly see Dewsbury town centre brought back to life, supporting the soon-to-reopen arcade and other town centre businesses, and cementing all we're doing to future-proof Dewsbury's heritage as a traditional market town – whilst creating a town centre that can thrive for future generations," he said. Speaking to the Mirror, Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration confirmed the estimated costs for both the revamped market and town park is around £22.5 million. "That figure is made up of money from the government's Towns Fund, which is aimed at regenerating town centres up and down the country, and our own capital funding," he added. When asked when the works will commence, Cllr Turner stated: "We're currently working closely with traders to discuss next steps. We'll soon be moving forward with procuring a contractor to complete the work, after which we'll be able to provide a further, more detailed update which includes both costs and timelines."
Auto Car
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Why Richard Burns is the WRC's unsung hero
If I were to ask everyone in the office to name their favourite rally driver, I'd put money on names like Röhrl, Kankkunen, Sainz, Mäkinen and McRae being thrown about. Indeed, these hotshoes all have the stats to prove their endless driving talent. But for me there's one that deserves to stand head and shoulders clear of the rest: Richard Burns. Here was a name that was, ahem, burned into my brain early on, when my parents bought me a pair of radio-controlled rally cars: a Subaru Impreza WRC and a Peugeot 206 WRC, each with the names of Burns and his co-driver Robert Reid affixed prominently to the rear window. I'd regularly get them out and attempt to drift them across the conservatory, laminate flooring being surprisingly good for perfecting the art. It was the blue and yellow Scooby that stood out to me, and watching Petter Solberg pilot his life-size version over huge crests and between trees on television set the foundations for a love of rallying from an early age. My true appreciation for Berkshire-born Burns came later, when I stumbled across his excellent autobiography, Driving Ambition, which tracks his rise to prominence from the Peugeot Challenge series, which helped launch the careers of many great drivers. My godfather used to compete in the Peugeot Challenge in his 1.6-litre 205 alongside Burns (who was in the big-boy 1.9-litre car) and my dad was part of the service crew. He once recounted a story of Burns from the Circuit des Ardennes rally back in 1991: not only did he win the event, but he was fastest on most of the stages and was easy to spot during the night because his brakes were glowing orange, such was his commitment. Burns would go on to become the youngest ever British Rally Champion and eventually a World Rally Champion in 2001 with Subaru – an incredible achievement, considering that he was behind the likes of Colin McRae and Tommi Mäkinen heading into the final round in Wales. Cool, calm and collected, Burns kept his Impreza on the road while McRae crashed out and Mäkinen retired from the event early on. As of today, Burns remains the only English driver to win the WRC title. You only need to watch on-board footage of Burns to gauge how talented and supremely fast he was at the helm of a rally car. His smooth driving style coupled with Reid's detailed pace notes allowed him to paint a clear picture of the stage ahead.
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Cult favourite car brand teases return of legendary performance model – four years after it was discontinued
SUBARU has hinted at the return of a hugely popular model - some four years after it was discontinued. While the Japanese carmaker is best known today for its practical SUVs and estates like the Crosstrek, Forester and Outback, it still holds legendary status among petrolheads. 3 3 3 That's because Subaru once dominated the World Rally Championship in the 1990s and early 2000s. With the likes of Colin McRae and Richard Burns at the wheel, Subaru took six WRC titles in the Constructors' and Drivers' champions between 1995 and 2003, cementing the blue-and-gold Impreza WRX STI as an icon. It meant the brand's high-performance Impreza model - which was later renamed the WRX STI - became a big hit and remained in production in various forms until 2021, when Subaru officially discontinued it in Europe, the UK, and North America. The decision at the time was driven by tightening emissions regulations and Subaru's shift in focus towards hybrid and electric models. But that might not be the end of the road for the WRX STI. Earlier this month, Subaru's Chief Technology Officer, Tetsuro Fujinuki, announced that the brand would reveal a new model at the Japan Mobility Show in October. While he didn't confirm any details, a brief design sketch shown to the audience sparked speculation that the WRX STI - or perhaps some kind of spiritual successor - could be returning. According to Japan's Car Watch, Fujinuki said the new model would 'make good use of our current technological assets' and hinted at 'an even more cutting-edge car.' For now, though, there's no official confirmation of a global WRX STI comeback - and certainly nothing concrete for UK fans to get excited about just yet. Still, with a teaser hint like this, Subaru clearly hasn't forgotten its motorsport roots. This comes as - a beloved motor that ran from 1987 to 1995. The Volkswagen-owned marque says they've 'drawn inspiration from the brand's rich history to create a modern interpretation' of the little motor, which was once a regular on UK roads.
