POLITICIANS are “playing to the gallery” by promising to keep village toilets open, a councillor has claimed.

Kirklees Council will decide its budget for 2012/13 tomorrow.

The public toilets on Morley Lane in Milnsbridge are among the likely victims as councillors look to cut spending by £15.7m next year.

Clr Hilary Richards helped organise a public meeting about the proposed cut at Milnsbridge Baptist Church earlier this month.

The Golcar Labour woman this week challenged her political opponents to come up with a better plan to deal with the public spending squeeze.

Clr Richards said: “Kirklees chief environmental officer Roger Wilson told the meeting that it cost more than £15,000 a year to run the toilets in Milnsbridge.

“Given the need to reduce expenditure, he recommend the closure of this and 10 other toilets across Kirklees.

“I accept that, with only 24 people or fewer using them each day, they are expensive.

“Those who suggested reducing the toilet cuts have not specified where the cuts should fall. They are playing to the gallery without being serious about the need to balance the books”.