A PUBLIC vote over plans to shift hospital services from Huddersfield to Halifax will leave Kirklees Council facing a £60,000 bill, it emerged today.

Council leader Clr Kath Pinnock said plans to hold a referendum over health changes were still being considered.

But she said the cost of sending out forms to more than 100,000 households would leave a gaping hole in council finances.

She said: "No decision has yet been made.

"But it would not be a binding referendum in any way.

"So you have got to really think if the council is going to spend £60,000, are there other ways in which people can make their views known without the Council spending a lot of money?"

She said a meeting was planned this week to discuss the idea in further detail with members.

The move to call a public vote was started by campaigners in a bid to help demonstrate the town's attitude towards radical new health proposals.

The group believes it would force health chiefs to think again over plans to shift services including women's, children's and planned surgery from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax.