COUNCILLORS have vowed to hold up billions of transport spending unless Huddersfield gets more of a share.

Ten Yorkshire councils – including Kirklees – are drawing up a 15-year rail and road plan worth up to £4.5bn.

But Kirklees councillors warned yesterday they would block the proposal unless Huddersfield’s transport links were made a top priority.

The council’s Cabinet is upset that the plan classes Bradford as an A priority while Huddersfield is B1.

Cabinet member for transport Clr Peter McBride said: "We’re not happy with the priorities. Is Bradford considered more important than Huddersfield because it’s a city? Huddersfield is actually more economically active."

But the Dalton Labour man said he was not "doing down" Bradford.

The plan is due to be signed off by 10 council leaders on October 8. But Clr McBride told yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that Kirklees would refuse to sign unless the priorities are changed.

The Leeds City Region Transport Strategy 2026 sets out six A priorities, including transforming Bradford and improving access to Leeds-Bradford Airport.

Enhancing rail and roads in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and the former coalfield areas of Wakefield are only B1 priorities. Clr McBride said: "We’re talking about £4.5bn here. Anything that isn’t an A priority is dead."

He added that the strategy did not include enough about links between West Yorkshire and Manchester.

Clr McBride said: "Road and rail links across the Pennines are of massive significance and we’re going to insist there’s a statement about trans-Pennine links which includes Huddersfield and the Colne Valley."

He added: "We’re not trying to be parochial and saying we want our share. We’re saying these priorities are not in the interests of Leeds City Region as a whole."

Cabinet member Clr Mary Harkin also criticised the plan. The Batley East Labour woman said: "It concentrates on Leeds-Bradford Airport when their are two other airports – Manchester and Robin Hood – within easy reach.

"The majority of people in Kirklees tend to go to Manchester Airport."

The Leeds City Region includes Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, Bradford, Leeds, Barnsley, Selby, Craven, Harrogate and York.