A councillor says she has grave concerns about any further reductions in highway maintenance budgets.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) says the issue is one of the most important the community is facing, although not as emotive as causes such as the campaign to save Ilkley Children’s Centre.

“We need only to look around us for the evidence,” she said.

“There are potholes, ruts and cracked flags. There are springs erupting throughout Ben Rhydding which puts more stress on budget through land drainage. The gullies need more cleaning not less.”

Coun Hawkesworth said it was no use aiming for new routes while letting the state of others decline.