Batley and Spen MP Kim Leadbeater calls on Government to provide fair funding for Kirklees Council with local sport centres, town halls and care homes under threat

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, the MP for Batley and Spen highlighted the local amenities under threat and warned of the financial situation confronting the council.

She said: “Without a fair settlement we will be storing up problems for the future which will impact on the health and wellbeing of many of my constituents. Areas such as mine have seen deeper cuts in funding than others.

“Indeed, the Prime Minister actually boasted that when he was Chancellor he shifted resources to places such as Tunbridge Wells, saying that ‘we inherited a bunch of formulas from the Labour Party that shoved all the funding into deprived urban areas and that needed to be undone’.”

Ms Leadbeater has written to ministers calling for a specific Town Hall Fund to save them from temporary or permanent closure. She has also organised a public meeting on the future of Batley Sport and Tennis Centre which was quickly over-subscribed.

She is urging constituents to participate in the public consultation here:

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/food-exercise-and-sport/leisure-centre-review-consultation.aspx

She added: “As the MP I don’t have any control over these funding decisions, but I will continue to use my position in Parliament to press the government to use the powers it has to relieve the pressure on council finances in areas like ours.”