A PLAN to abolish Kirklees Council would be “disruptive, bureaucratic and expensive”, according to a top politician.

Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan last night claimed people in Huddersfield “wouldn’t even look” at the Conservative proposal.

Earlier this week the Tories unveiled a radical plan to split Kirklees, creating two new councils called Greater Huddersfield and Dewsbury and Spen.

The Conservatives also proposed sharing services such as payroll and human resources with Calderdale Council.

But Clr Khan believes the plan is a bad idea.

The Greenhead Labour man said: “The Tory proposals seem poorly considered and would be unworkable in reality – they would not benefit the local residents or communities of Kirklees.

“People won’t even look at these ideas seriously unless finely detailed plans and costs have been outlined in full.

“History tells us that any major reorganisation of local government is a lengthy, disruptive, bureaucratic and expensive business.

“It isn’t a case of waving a magic wand to move boundaries, this would need primary legislation in the form of an Act of Parliament.”

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England would have to carry out a review before Government ministers could consider any proposal to split Kirklees.

Conservative opposition leader Clr Robert Light said on Tuesday that local government secretary Eric Pickles had been informed of the plan.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for his department explained that changing council boundaries was not a Government priority.

She said: “To help make sensible savings, ministers believe that the priority should be greater joint working and sharing of back office services.

“Councils already have a range of powers to work together and pool functions or services. Wholesale local government restructuring is unlikely to offer value for money.”

University of Huddersfield politics lecturer Dr Pete Woodcock agreed last night.

“I don’t get the impression that local government reorganisation is high on David Cameron’s agenda,” he said.

But the academic added that many people felt no connection to the council area.

“Kirklees is a strange amalgam,” he said.

“People think of themselves as being from their village – Lindley, Almondbury, Fenay Bridge – and there’s an attachment to Huddersfield, but I wonder how many people think of themselves as coming from Kirklees.”

Greater Huddersfield: Council wards: Almondbury, Ashbrow, Colne Valley, Crosland Moor and Netherton; Dalton, Denby Dale, Golcar, Greenhead, Holme Valley North, Holme Valley South, Kirkburton, Lindley and Newsome.

Current party strength (39 seats): Labour 12, Conservatives 10, Lib Dems 10, Greens 4, Independents 3

Prominent councillors: Labour council leader Clr Mehboob Khan; Green leader Clr Andrew Cooper; former Conservative leader Clr Jim Dodds; former Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Clr Nicola Turner.

MPs: Barry Sheerman (Labour, Huddersfield), Jason McCartney (Conservative, Colne Valley), Simon Reevell (Conservative, Dewsbury constituency which includes Kirkburton and Denby Dale)

Dewsbury and Spen Council wards: Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw; Cleckheaton, Dewsbury East, Dewsbury South, Dewsbury West, Heckmondwike, Liversedge and Gomersal; Mirfield.

Current party strength (30 seats): Labour 15, Conservatives 11, Lib Dems 4.

Prominent councillors: Conservative leader Clr Robert Light, Lib Dem leader Clr Kath Pinnock, Labour’s deputy council leader Clr David Sheard.

MPs: Mike Wood (Labour, Batley and Spen), Simon Reevell (Conservative, Dewsbury).

THE idea of splitting Kirklees received a mixed reaction on the Examiner website.

Many supported the idea but there were concerns over the possible costs.

LewisD: “That’s the best bit of planning to come out of Kirklees for decades. There is also another bonus in that it should also include the demise of Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing.”

Yeton: “The sooner the abomination that is Kirklees is history, the better.”

Norcoop: “It isn’t just Dewsbury area people who object to Kirklees, The Colne and Holme Valleys and the rest of the old Agbrigg area never wanted it either.

“The only reason ‘Greater’ Huddersfield would include other areas would be to provide extra for Huddersfield. No, if you are going to let Dewsbury etc. out, let us out as well.”

Simon C: “This sounds like a huge waste of time and money. The various local authorities can and already are sharing services.

“I’m not convinced the biggest concern for most people leaving in Kirklees is the name of the council and what other areas it covers. Can’t find Kirklees on a map? So what?”