A funding bid for a new bridge over the River Colne has been lost.
Kirklees Liberal Democrats sought money for infrastructure ideas which were dismissed as a ‘wish list’ by Cabinet member for Place Clr Peter McBride.
At a full meeting of Kirklees Council the party submitted amendments to the council’s Capital Plan.
The council intends to spend £8 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on a new relief road for Ravensthorpe.
But the Lib Dems wanted the cash used instead for a new Colne Valley bridge; £1 million towards a new sports centre in the Spen Valley; and £149,000 for new street lamps.
Clr David Ridgway, Colne Valley Lib Dem, said: “A new bridge across the River Colne is needed because of the increase in the amount of traffic from the Holme Valley to the motorway. They do not come via Huddersfield’s ring road but across the roads that link the two valleys.”
Clr McBride said diverting the money wasn’t possible and added: “If we put this to the Combined Authority the response would be ‘you’re joking and you’re not going to get the money for that kind of madcap scheme.’”
Clr Andrew Cooper, Green and Valley Independents leader, dubbed it as a “strategic approach for Lib Dem wards.”
Deputy leader Clr David Hall said: “We should not be adding ideas at a time we’re reviewing budgets.”
The Lib Dem amendment vote was lost 44-10 with five abstentions.
The council rolled over £1.1m relating to Pioneer House in Dewsbury into 2015/16’s budget while a government grant of £1m for free school meals has seen £300 allocated and £734k put into the wider capital pot.
A further £1.3m of the £6m for schools is being spent of the all-through school for Almondbury.
Of the £92m capital spend, £54m has not been spent and councillors agreed to take £13m out altogether to reduce the council’s borrowing costs.
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