THE HEAD of a Bradford-based drug and alcohol misuse charity has warned that "society will pay" for impending cuts to local public health budgets.

As revealed in the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, almost £3 million could be slashed from services such as smoking cessation classes, obesity clinics, and drug and alcohol treatment services in a 7.8 per cent funding drop.

Bradford Council said yesterday it was yet to meet with the Department of Health to discuss the potential reductions, but Jon Royle, chief executive of the Bridge Project - which provides support to drug and alcohol users - criticised the cuts as "short-term thinking."

"I'm really concerned about the proposed level of cuts, as lots of public health issues are long-term problems, such as drug and alcohol misuse," he said.

"The UK has one of the best drug treatment systems in the world, but that is down to a gradual investment in its quality and workforce.

"There have been very significant benefits to society, such as a huge reduction in drug and alcohol-related crime.

"The problem does not seem to be as high on the political agenda now, but it is absolute short-term thinking if support is taken away.

"If the cuts continue, it is society that will pay for it."

The Chancellor George Osborne announced a £200m “in-year” cut to public health spending earlier this month, but did not set out where the reductions would fall.

The 7.8 per cent across-the-board cut, one of three options said to be under discussion, would reduce Bradford Council's allocated public health budget for 2015-16 of £35.3million by £2.8million.

The potential cut was described as "shocking" by Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council's executive member for health and social care, and Council leader David Green added yesterday: "We reject these additional planned cuts as we have already committed the public health budget for this year.

"Implementing the cuts would mean stopping services that are vital to the residents who use them."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council, said: "Bradford was over-funded in terms of public health in the first instance, and spent some of the money elsewhere.

"The Council is clearly making decisions not in-line with what its priorities should be, such as finding money to build swimming pools and doing up City Hall.

"My view is that if money is allocated for public health, it should be spent on health-related issues."

Councillor Mike Gibbons, health spokesman for the Council's Conservative group, said he did not want to comment in detail until figures were confirmed.

"Any cuts at the moment are only being discussed, and we will look at the situation once intentions at a local level become clearer," he added.

A spokesman for public health at Bradford Council said: "Bradford Council has yet to meet with the Department of Health, but will be responding to them as part of the Government's consultation."