AN HISTORIC building is to be sold off and its staff moved to Huddersfield.

Kirklees Council plans to put Knowl House in Mirfield on the market – sparking an angry response from one of the town’s councillors.

Around 20 staff from the council’s catering, caretaking and complaints service currently work at the Knowl Road venue.

They will be relocated to Huddersfield town centre this summer.

Clr Martyn Bolt is angry that staff are leaving the town.

The Mirfield Conservative said: “People who work in Mirfield will probably spend money in Mirfield shops either at lunchtime or after work, so moving council jobs to Huddersfield could have a major effect on the many small businesses in the town.”

Clr Bolt added that Knowl House had been left to the people of Mirfield by the Walker family in 1943.

“There is a plaque to mark that generous act in the entrance to the building,’’ he said. “It clearly says that the land and house are for the benefit of the inhabitants of Mirfield.

“We would receive marginal and temporary benefit from sending the receipts of a sale to Huddersfield.”

Clr Bolt believes Labour-run Kirklees has a vendetta against his town.

“Kirklees is selling off Mirfield assets to help the Huddersfield-centric council during the tough times caused by Gordon Brown’s economic policies,’’ he claimed.

“Once again Mirfield is in the sights of the Labour-run Huddersfield Council for punitive measures.

“If they can’t close our schools then they want to build on our green fields and sell off that which was gifted to Mirfield people.”

But a council spokesman said: “The catering and cleaning services currently based at Knowl House are relocating to Huddersfield in the summer as part of the long-term and council-wide plan to ensure we get the best out of all council buildings and resources while maintaining high quality service.

“We have to look at all our assets and while at the moment no recommendations have been made for which services relocate to Knowl House, we certainly would not take any decisions without consulting ward councillors on any potential impacts any change of service or disposal of assets would have.”

Kirklees officers are believed to be considering which council properties should be sold off to help deal with a funding squeeze.