A row broke out in a council meeting after an Almondbury resident described Kirklees roads as “third world standard”.

John Fieldhouse handed a petition and urged Kirklees Cabinet to find the money to improve the road and pavement at Jessop Avenue.

But acting council leader, Clr David Sheard, said anyone who likened Kirklees roads to those in the third world “has never been to a third world country”.

Mr Fieldhouse waved a plastic bag of pavement bits to Cabinet members at yesterday’s meeting to highlight his concerns.

He said: “In 2007 I raised this and we were promised refurbishment.

“There are 44 different types of tarmac on the left of the road and 24 different types of tarmac on the other side.”

He added said: “The council isn’t judged on the state of affairs at the moment that you inherit, but judge the council on how it reacts to any complaint of an issue raised by a resident.”

After likening the roads to third world standard, Clr Sheard took exception.

He said: “People who say there are roads that look like third world have not been to a third world country.”

He and Mr Fieldhouse continued to dispute the state of the roads, comparing them to places they had visited abroad, when Clr Sheard summed up: “We will have to agree to disagree”.

John Fieldhouse says Jessop Avenue, Almondbury has not been resurfaced for 45 years
John Fieldhouse says Jessop Avenue, Almondbury has not been resurfaced for 45 years

Almondbury ward member Clr Linda Wilkinson explained: “Taking into account we have committed to work in other parts of the ward.....we don’t have enough money to do the cul de sacs, the main stretches and the pavement.”

Clr Sheard said the deputation would be passed to Highways to respond.

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