HUNDREDS of jobs should be relocated from Huddersfield to Dewsbury, an MP has said.
Conservative Simon Reevell wants Kirklees Council to move one of its departments into his constituency.
The Dewsbury MP said yesterday: “Kirklees has leases coming to an end in Huddersfield. It could look at relocating some staff to Dewsbury – there’s easy access on the train from Huddersfield.”
Mr Reevell thinks moving council office staff into Dewsbury would boost town centre trade.
“Five hundred people coming into Dewsbury every day with money in their pockets would make a huge difference to the local economy,” he said.
Mr Reevell made the comments yesterday after asking the Government for details of the economic situation in his constituency – which includes Kirkburton, Denby Dale and Mirfield.
Cabinet Office minister Nick Hurd informed the MP that there were 880 unemployed people aged 18 to 24 in April, down from 920 a year before. He also revealed that 45 shops closed in the Dewsbury constituency in 2007 and 35 the following year.
Mr Reevell said: “The empty shops in Dewsbury town centre create the impression that there are real economic difficulties. However, there are a lot of success stories in Dewsbury.”
