DRIVERS have been warned to expect a bumpy ride as Kirklees Council cuts its roads spending.

Officials have drawn up a plan to slash £278,000 from this year’s budget, after more Government funding was withdrawn.

The council’s Cabinet will decide next month whether to support the changes, which will mean cuts in every part of Kirklees.

And it’s likely to mean less money to repair potholed roads in the coming months.

Cabinet member for roads Clr David Sheard said the public spending squeeze made the cuts unavoidable.

“The money is allocated by central government,” said the Heckmondwike Labour man.

“If we haven’t got the money, there’s nowhere else we can raise it.”

Kirklees was due to invest £16.18m on the roads in 2011/12. But that will be cut to £15.9m to balance the budget.

Clr Sheard believes this is well below the level needed.

“Three years ago we had an annual budget of around £30m. Just to keep the roads at the level they are at now would take £40m,” he said.

“Obviously the infrastructure is going to get worse.”

Clr Sheard said Kirklees would try to target investment to improve road safety.

“We used to get a £2m grant from central government for road safety. That’s just gone altogether.

“It’s inevitable that the roads will be more dangerous in some areas. The roads will be more uncomfortable.

“Safety is more of a preference than comfort,” he said.

The Cabinet will rule on the cuts plan at its meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall from 4pm on Tuesday, January 3.

Where the axe could fall?

Funding for improvements to Huddersfield town centre to be slashed from £350,000 to £30,000.

Investment in road reconstruction at Chapel Hill to be cut from £300,000 to £100,000.

Spending on public transport improvements to drop £460,000 from £1.076m to £616,000.

Pedestrian safety funding for Trinity Street to fall from £30,000 to £2,000.

Pedestrian safety spending on Broad Lane in Moldgreen to be reduced from £50,000 to £40,000.

Lighting and pavement works in the Colne Valley to be reduced from £82,000 to £72,000.

Lighting and pavement works in Golcar to be cut from £56,000 to £33,000.

Lighting and pavement works in Holme Valley North to be reduced from £22,000 to £1,000.

Spending on resurfacing of School Hill in Kirkburton to be cut from £36,000 to £17,000.

All £40,000 to be spent on lighting and pavement works in Newsome to be scrapped.

Spending on strengthening Wood End Bridge in Slaithwaite to be cut from £80,000 to £5,000.