A VILLAGE community group has accused a councillor of 'hijacking' their community centre project for his own political and personal gains.

Grange Moor Community Association Group, says Kirkburton parish councillor Roy Dobson has taken credit for its work.

Kirkburton Parish Council voted to allocate £20,000 of its budget to the community centre last Thursday.

In a Labour Rose newsletter, which neglects to mention the fund, Clr Dobson claims to have proposed the move.

But the association, set up in August, says Clr Dobson had been against the centre and is proposing a site near the New Inn as opposed to the Back Lane site proposed by the fund.

Association chairman John Peters said: "Roy Dobson has done this for nothing but his own political and personal reasons.

"The project has been going for much longer than since last Thursday. I've been slogging with Kirklees Council to get a plot of land and I'm almost there. We've consulted every man, woman, cat and dog in the village. The plans are ready to go. We're virtually there and this guy has come along and said this is just the start.

"I'm very grateful for the £20,000 but he's using the community centre as a political football. He's trying to railroad everyone. I gave him the option to get involved before and he said it didn't benefit him."

Fund vice-chairman Jonathan Myers said: "He's said that the 'hard work starts now'. Where was he when we were arranging the Christmas raffle?

"John Peters is working flat out. It was Grange Moor Tenants' and Residents' Association who started the ball rolling. The fund has set up a bank account and we've raised money.

"We've drawn plans. We're ready to go to the Lottery Fund. The only thing holding us back is planning permission.

"He's trying to steamroll people. There's an election coming and he's trying to use it to say: 'look what I've done.'"

But Clr Dobson strenuously denied all allegations.

He said: "I've never been against the project. What I said was I didn't want to be a member of the committee because I would have to declare it as an interest in the parish council.

"They don't realise how complicated it is being a councillor.

"You can't put a modern community centre on a site that's small and where traffic will cause a nuisance. There's more land near the New Inn. We've had shows and carnivals on that site before. I don't think access will be a problem.

"They never knock on my door or next door's door. The whole village wants informing not just part of it. They've not kept me informed. The community building belongs to the community not a chosen few. A public meeting should have been called long before now.

"I've solved many problems in the village at my own cost."