New figures obtained through a freedom of information request to Bradford Council reveal just FOUR per cent of the Council's identified highways spending went to Keighley and Ilkley over the past six years.
A Freedom of Information request to Bradford Council detailed spending in each of the years from 2017 to 2022, broken down by parliamentary constituency.
It shows just £4.1 million (four per cent) was spent in Keighley & Ilkley, compared with £13.1 million (13 per cent) in Bradford South, £19.2 million (19 per cent) in Bradford East, nearly £17.4 million (17 per cent) in Bradford West and just over £1.72 million (two per cent) in Shipley.
Reacting to the new figures, Keighley and Ilkley's MP Robbie Moore said:
“No matter your political stripes, how can anyone think this is fair? My constituents have been withheld millions of pounds which could have been spent repairing our roads, pavements, potholes and bridges."
The data provided by the council also includes money spent on highways north and south and figures for unallocated spend, which means the money did not benefit one particular area. In total in the six years £103 million was spent. Of that total allocations to the five parliamentary constituencies accounted for 54 per cent of the spend, with a further six per cent in the north and seven per cent in the south of the district with the remaining £33.9 million (33 per cent) as unallocated spend.
A breakdown revealed that Keighley and Ilkley was allocated the lowest spend in two of the six years, in 2019 and 2022. When Keighley and Ilkley was not the lowest spend area, it ranked second – just above the spend in Shipley.
Highways budgets can include spending on road maintenance, pavements, bridges, resurfacing and repairs.
The MP added:
"We are owed an explanation now as to why there is such a disparity in these figures and the nature of the unallocated spending listed in their response to this FOI.
It is data like this which is exactly why I want to see Keighley & Ilkley reclaim our independence from Bradford Council. This is about fighting for a local authority which puts Keighley and Ilkley first over one that does not.”
