A CAMPAIGN to “Save The Cheque” could be launched in Huddersfield.

Councillors are urging the local authority and MPs to fight to save the chequebook – due to be phased out by 2018.

A motion to be put to Kirklees Council on Wednesday will seek support for the campaign.

The proposal has come from Lib Dem councillors John Smithson, Kath Pinnock, Christine Stanfield, Cahal Burke and David Ridgway.

They fear that many Huddersfield people – particularly the elderly – still use cheques on a regular basis and will be badly hit by the plan.

The councillors also fear that many small businesses would suffer.

Chequebooks were first introduced 350 years ago but the British Payments Council said cheque use was in “long-term, terminal decline”.

Chief executive Paul Smee said: “There are many more efficient ways of making payments than by paper in the 21st century, and the time is ripe for the economy as a whole to reap the benefits of its replacement”.

The goal is to ensure that by 2018 there is no scenario where customers, individuals or businesses still need to use a cheque.

On current trends, cheque use would decline to 1.6 million a day by 2018, from 3.8 million a day in 2008. No major UK-wide supermarket chain accepts the payment method, along with most petrol stations and high street stores, due to the relatively high costs of processing them – around a pound.

But the Kirklees councillors are concerned.

A spokesman for the campaigners said: “High Street banks are planning to stop accepting cheques despite protests from consumer groups and businesses.

“Nearly four million cheques are still being written each day and many people still prefer to pay for goods and services in this way.

“Many people and organisations including the elderly, businesses and charities, would be seriously affected as a result.

“We note that 126 MPs from all parties have signed Early Day Motion 258 calling for the banks to reconsider their proposals.

“We are asking Kirklees Council to lobby our MPs, asking them to sign EDM 507 which would guarantee cheques would continue to be used until a suitable alternative is brought in.

“We also want the council to write to the Prime Minister David Cameron expressing this Council’s concern about the plans to abolish cheques and urging him to provide Parliamentary time to ensure that the Bill is passed into law.”