MORE money has been proposed for roads in Kirklees.

The council’s Conservative Cabinet wants to spend an extra £6m on highway improvements.

Council leader Clr Robert Light accused other parties of underfunding roads in Kirklees in the past.

He said: “In 2006 we inherited a £35m backlog in road repairs from previous Lib Dem and Labour administrations due to their poor investment in our transport system.

“Our budget proposals this year include an extra £6m, which would bring the total investment allocated to £20m in less than two years.

“This represents a massive commitment from the Conservative administration to improving our roads, and we will continue to work to get our roads back up to scratch.

“Everyone can see that the condition of the roads in Kirklees is improving and it is typical that the Lib Dems and Labour should try to take credit for the improvements when it was they who oversaw the years of neglect.

“Everyone knows that the only reason why the roads in Kirklees are getting repaired is because the Conservatives are making it happen.”

The Cabinet member responsible for highways, Clr Martyn Bolt, added: “All wards throughout Kirklees have seen improvements, irrespective of their political representation, and all residents have seen real benefits from our better roads initiatives.

“But people must remember that you can’t wipe out a £35m backlog overnight. It will take time to put right this neglect.

“The most important thing is that this council continues to commit to these improvements, as well as keeping up the improvements we have already made. We must ensure there is no deterioration in the quality of roads throughout our area – just continued improvement.”