DRIVERS have been warned to expect a bumpy ride as Kirklees Council cuts its roads spending.

Officials have drawn up a plan to slash £278,000 from this year’s budget after more Government funding was withdrawn.

The council’s Cabinet will decide next month whether to support the changes which will mean cuts in every part of Kirklees.

And it’s likely to mean less money to repair potholed roads in the coming months.

Cabinet member for roads Clr David Sheard said the public spending squeeze made the cuts unavoidable.

“The money is allocated by central government,” said the Heckmondwike Labour man.

“If we haven’t got the money, there’s nowhere else we can raise it.”

Kirklees was due to invest £16.18m on the roads in 2011/12 but that will be cut to £15.9m to balance the budget.

Putzfrau wasn’t happy: “What has this stupid word ‘invest’ got to do with the council’s responsibility to maintain their road/infrastructure assets?

“The only ‘investment’ that one sees is the construction of bus and cycle lanes that are sprouting everywhere.

“Clr Sheard tries to sound important by referring to ‘investment’ but comes out pompous.”

Dismayed_of_Dalton was singing from a similar hymn sheet: “It’s not about comfort Clr Sheard, it’s about Kirklees maintaining the roads so they don’t damage my vehicle and cause accidents by me swerving about trying to miss potholes!”

Lindley seems to have a handle on the figures: “Kirklees spends nearly 15% less per person than the average in England according to the Audit Commission’s comparative performance indicators (see Oneplace.com)

for 2009/10.”

markmyword49 didn’t want to blame the councillors: “Don’t blame Clr Sheard and company.

“Blame the voters who always say they want money spent but then put their cross against the party or candidate who will not raise taxes.

“All the moaners can’t have it both ways. Repairs, maintenance and new builds cost money and inflation is running at 5% so the funding will be even less in real terms.

“Remember we get the services we pay for. The Council Tax freeze has been a false economy.”

For Tom, the more things change the more they stay the same: “Nothing new here. Even in the 1950s we knew when we had got back to Huddersfield by the bumps in the road.”