A COUNCIL blunder has cost taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, it was revealed last night.

Kirklees Council has spent £130,000 on a crossing in Wooldale which has never been turned on in the two years since it was installed.

Kirklees deputy leader Clr Ken Smith described the situation as “a dog’s breakfast” at last night’s Cabinet meeting as the three-year dispute dragged on.

Kirklees had planned to install the puffin crossing outside the home of Robin and Angela Wray at New Mill Road.

But in June 2007, the council gave the Wrays planning permission for a driveway at the front of their house, leading out on to where the crossing was supposed to go.

The couple had previously used a side access for parking.

Cabinet member for highways Clr David Sheard said last night that giving the Wrays planning permission for a driveway at the front of their home had been a mistake.

The Heckmondwike Labour councillor said: “When the request for planning permission came in, no-one at Highways pointed out that a crossing was planned there.

“The Wrays would probably not have got the decision if this mistake had not been made.”

Kirklees then installed the crossing in Spring 2008, but orange hoods were placed over the lights and the crossing has never been turned on.

In September 2009, Kirklees issued a stopping-up order to prevent the Wrays’ front driveway being used by vehicles. The couple appealed and a public inquiry decided last month that they could continue using their drive.

Now the council wants to turn the crossing on and let the Wrays continue to use their front driveway.

Clr Sheard revealed the cost of the dispute at last night’s meeting.

He said: “So far this crossing has cost us £130,000 and we haven’t had it switched on.”

Installing a crossing usually costs between £60,000 and £70,000 – meaning around half the £130,000 cost is down to the council’s initial mistake.

Kirklees is believed to have spent £20,000 on legal costs at the public inquiry.

Clr Sheard said the council should consider turning on the crossing – and letting it co-exist with the driveway.

He said: “Switching it on would cost £3,000, but removing the crossing would cost us £30,000, with nothing gained. Given the capital constraints, I can’t see how we can justify spending more and more on the crossing.”

Clr Sheard suggested that the final decision on the crossing should be delegated to the council’s area committee for the Holme Valley.

But Clr Nigel Patrick, of Holme Valley South, told the Cabinet: “I really wish you would make a decision on this today and then it’s over.”

The Labour Cabinet also heard from Mr and Mrs Wray and four neighbours, all of whom called for the crossing not to be switched on.

The Cabinet voted unanimously to pass the decision making to the area committee.