TWO run-down parts of Huddersfield town centre could be in line for a revamp.

Councillors will decide next week whether to spend £16,000 improving St Peter’s Gardens and New Street.

Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Committee has been asked to come up with £7,000 for new lighting in the green space behind the parish church.

Officers have suggested replacing high-pressure sodium bulbs with energy-efficient white lights in 17 decorative lanterns.

According to officials, the work will: “make it easier for people to differentiate between colours and facial features after dark, reduce the risk of trips and falls and contribute to the reduction of anti-social behaviour by improving the quality of images on the nearby CCTV cameras.”

The lantern columns would also be sanded down and repainted black to improve their appearance.

Clr Christine Stanfield said yesterday that she hoped fellow committee members will back the plan.

“The parish church is a beautiful building in the middle of town, with a much improved garden where the greenery has been cut back to open it up,” said the Lindley Lib Dem.

“When it was dark and pokey, the garden tended to be a venue for town drinkers, which put people off going there.

“There are some rather splendid lights there and I’ve been trying to find the money re-do these.

“The area committee doesn’t have a culture of supplying money to the town centre. But, now that other council services have been cut to the bone, I think councillors should be more generous in supporting the town centre because it’s for all of us in Huddersfield.”

Clr Stanfield has also proposed £9,250 of improvements to New Street.

The work includes:

Footway improvements costing £2,000.

Spending £3,250 removing one large tree and improving all tree bases.

Installing protective fencing round the raised flower beds and planting mixed herbaceous plants at a cost of £1,750.

Spending £1,500 on extra floral planters and barrier planters on the ring road.

Power-washing the seats, bins and heavily soiled areas at a cost of £750.

Clr Stanfield said: “I asked for a scheme to be drawn up. New Street is an area with a very heavy footfall and it’s one of the scruffiest parts of the town.

“The flower beds look like a series of tombstones, they are doing nothing to enhance the area.”

The Huddersfield Committee will decide on the spending at its meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall from 7pm next Tuesday.