Kirklees budget: Dewsbury’s museum, public toilets, free town bus and events at risk

Dewsbury’s public toilets and free town bus are among services under threat in the latest round of budget proposals from Kirklees Council.

The authority opened the second phase of consultation on its plans for 2015-2018 this week, asking people to give their views on specific proposals for service cuts.

They include scrapping Dewsbury and Huddersfield’s free town buses, which currently costs the council just under £1.2m a year to run.

Dewsbury’s annual Spirit festival and the town hall’s lunchtime concert programme may also be under threat, as the £853,000 currently allocated to community arts and concert grants could reduce significantly.

Public toilets could be slashed, with the council suggesting an end to toilet provision in Dewsbury town centre in 2015/16.

Dewsbury Museum could also be shut as the council considers keeping just two of its museums open if the service cannot generate more commercial income.

However, the town’s library appears to be safe from the axe. Despite plans to cut the libraries budget by more than half, Dewsbury and Huddersfield are suggested as the only two public libraries that should stay open in Kirklees.

What do you think? Send your letters to [email protected] or write to Dewsbury Reporter, c/o Floor 5, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds.