HIGH-RANKING staff could be left to use public transport to do their jobs if a council presses ahead with plans to remove essential car users’ allowances to cut costs.

Northumberland County Council wants to save £700,000 by taking away lump sum allowances for 750 employees. They include social workers and legal staff involved in child protection who use their own cars for business.

Council chiefs are in statutory consultation with town hall trade unions over the controversial proposals.

But the plans have been condemned as “crazy” by a council union leader.

Ian Fleming, branch secretary of Unison, branded the move “a false economy” and warned any savings could be lost in the extra man-hours needed to do jobs.

And independent county councillor Steven Bridgett described it as “absolute madness”.

The council this week wrote to affected staff outlining the plans but insists that no final decision has yet been taken.

Head of Transformation Dan Paul said “significant budget savings” have to be made in the years ahead and the authority needs to consider all ways of making economies.

A council spokesman told The Journal: “Like many other councils across the country, we are reviewing our essential car user allowance scheme which involves 750 employees.