A REFERENDUM could be held over plans to move hospital services from Huddersfield to Halifax.
Kirklees Council leader Kath Pinnock today confirmed that senior officials were looking into the benefits of calling a public vote on proposals to shake up services at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
The move comes after campaigners highlighted the powers of the Local Government Act.
This gives councils the right to "do anything which they consider is likely to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of all or part of their area".
Clr Pinnock said a balance had to be found between the cost of organising the vote and the influence it would have over decision-making.
She added: "I have asked my senior officers to look into it.
"The referendum would not be a binding referendum. All it would be would be an opportunity for people to express their views.
"It would cost a considerable amount of money, so we need to see if there are better ways of people doing the same thing, such as signing a petition or writing to the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust.
"It would be disappointing if people said they didn't want any of the changes, then the trust board went ahead anyway."
Clr Pinnock expressed disappointment that trust chiefs had failed to consult Kirklees before drawing up radical plans to reshape services in Huddersfield.
She added: "We work very closely with the health service and we did not know anything about it.
"It was suspected that proposals were going to be made, because of the financial position of the board. But we did not know any of the details.
"It is really unfortunate that they did not engage at all with people in the town before coming up with these proposals.
"God knows who they have engaged with.
"Ultimately, the council can only influence. This is what we're trying to exert, in the hope that it will put enough pressure on the trust's board for its members to have second thoughts."
But Kevin Holder, chief executive of Huddersfield's two primary care trusts, said Kirklees had been involved in the entire process.
He said councillors had been involved all along, through Kirklees's health scrutiny committee.
He added: "The NHS has presented its proposals on a number of occasions and answered detailed questions presented by committee members.
"In addition, we have met MPs and, on an invited basis, have met members of parish and town councils and other political groups.
"We will continue to do so on request and refute any suggestion that we have tried to bypass the democratic process."
