A row has broken out over noise, dirt and disturbance caused by the building of Huddersfield’s new sports centre.

Dozens of tenants and residents of Spring Grove lobbied Kirklees Council’s Cabinet members this week, urging action after building work impacted on their home life.

Ian Brooke, speaking on behalf of many residents at the meeting, outlined the problems they’ve had, saying: “We’ve noise, dust, disturbance, theft and vandalism.

Since the screens went up we’ve had vandals and theft, two car windscreens have been smashed, gardens have been trampled on.

“Plants have been stolen and 11 solar lights have been taken.

“We can’t open our windows because of the dust coming from the site, which in hot weather is not good.

“In this circumstance we would like to put in for disturbance allowance or possibly council tax relief for the Spring Grove tenants and residents.”

During the meeting, Cabinet members said the theft incidents were not the result of the building work, but promised to hold further talks after the Cabinet meeting.

Clr Peter McBride, Cabinet member for Place, said: “I understand the difficulties people are experiencing, but I can remember another bigger development, the stadium and B&Q development, which affected my constituents and no payment was made available in that situation.

“It’s inevitable that there is going to be some disturbance, the dirt has got to be addressed and we’ll certainly talk to the builders about that.”

The new £36m sports centre should be open to the public in 2015. It replaces the current sports centre at Southgate which will be pulled down with other buildings to make way for a new Tesco store.

Tesco is contributing towards the cost of the new sports centre, but Kirklees Council will not publish the exact figure until Land Registry documents are filed.

At a Cabinet meeting earlier this month a petition was submitted asking for £1,000 disturbance money towards the cost of activities.

During this week’s Cabinet meeting, Clr Andrew Cooper, leader of the Green Party and Newsome ward member, said: “Tesco has put significant funding into this, they’re not covering the entire cost as some of us know. I am sure some should be allocated to deal with disturbance payments.’’

After the meeting Clr Cooper added: “We’re going to sit down with contractors and talk to them about the issues, having the windows cleaned and so on.

“I think it was accepted after the meeting that putting screens up in areas that were previously open was going to make people feel more able to nick stuff.”

On the issue of disturbance money, Clr Cooper said: “To live next door to dust and disturbance for a year, along with the issue of theft, is going to be pretty upsetting for most people.

“I think anybody in those circumstances will be coming to the council and saying ‘what are you going to do about it’?

“They’re asking for some sort of recompense for the loss of quality of life.

“I think it is something to take up with the contractor.”