Councillors say a council meeting has made them sick.
Three councillors attending a meeting of Mirfield Town Council on Tuesday night say they have been struck down.
Clr James Taylor and his mother Clr Kath Taylor were forced to leave the chamber at the town council offices in Huddersfield Road because of breathing difficulties and the foisty smell.
Councillors said the building was leaking and riddled with damp with mould appearing on the walls.
Clr Taylor said the damp had triggered his mother’s asthma and she was confined to bed the following morning.
Mayor of Mirfield Clr Vivien Lees-Hamilton also reported sick the morning after.
Clr Taylor said the building wasn’t fit for purpose and fired off a complaint to Kirklees Council leader David Sheard and chief executive Adrian Lythgo.
“It is wrong that councillors can’t attend a meeting without their health being affected and it’s reached a point where this building needs urgent action,” he said.
“There is a major damp problem and there are leaks when it rains and damp is climbing up the walls.
“It was so bad that before Christmas I took my own dehumidifier down there to try and pull some of the damp out of the atmosphere.
“For two councillors not to be able to take part in a meeting because of the condition of the room is a serious health and safety issue that must be addressed.”
Kirklees councillors who attended a district committee planning meeting on the same night also complained over the smell.
Mirfield Town Council is looking to take over control of the building from Kirklees under an “asset transfer.”
Kirklees has allowed parish and town councils to use buildings rent free but that is about to end.
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In December the Cabinet voted to start charging rent with Mirfield to be billed £14,848 a year.
Clr Taylor said Kirklees had owned the building since 1974 but had failed to maintain it.
In February last year Clr Taylor was forced to change the lightbulbs in a chandelier at the council offices after waiting months for Kirklees to do the job.
A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: "“As part of the changes the council is making to become more efficient we are reviewing all our assets, Mirfield Council Offices are part of this review. Kirklees Council have received an asset transfer application for the building and this is being considered.
“In the meantime - we are aware that the roof has been leaking, and an investigation has taken place to find the cause of the leaks. We are planning to make some repairs whilst considering further action."
