GREEN Party councillors in the district have called for an end to publicly-funded support for Leeds Bradford Airport.

They say up to £100 million of public money could be used to fund new road build schemes to facilitate airport expansion.

Councillor Andrew Cooper, Leader of the Green group on Kirklees Council said: “Public money should not be used to fund the pollution of our planet by commercial companies.

“Only a few weeks ago Leeds City Region and its constituent councils declared a Climate Emergency in response to the stark warnings on the threat of climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and we only have a limited amount of time to bring our emissions under control.

“It is bizarre that under these circumstances – and with the significant change in public opinion – that we are even considering using tax payers money in this way."

The Green Party wants to see an increase in funding for public transport.

Concerns have also been raised by academics at the University of Leeds.

In a report, Jefim Vogel and Yannick Oswald, both PhD researchers in ecological economics, and Joel Millward-Hopkins, a postdoctoral researcher in sustainability, warned that local authorities shouldn’t pass the buck on airport expansion saying that environmental targets “sit uncomfortably alongside plans to expand Leeds Bradford Airport.”

Councillor Cooper added: “My colleagues and I will continue to put forward the case that £100 million could be spent on more reliable bus services or even new tram and train links across the region.”