OTLEY people are being urged to object “in the strongest terms” to a planned massive development with hundreds of homes. The East of Otley Action Group made the call when it issued its position statement in response to the planning application from the Otley East Consortium. The action group says: “We recognise the need for some more homes for individuals and families - truly affordable and built in a way that is ‘sustainable’ in all the identities of that word, both across Leeds and in Otley.” But it stresses it is completely opposed to the proposed development for a number of reasons.
COMMUNITY groups in Otley have reacted strongly to this week’s hybrid planning application for a huge development to the East of Otley for a mixed use site of 700 houses and a major new link road. The community groups, the East of Otley Action Group and Wildlife Friendly Otley, which represent the wider community, the majority of whom are against the development and loss of this important local green space and wildlife habitat, issued a statement in response to the publication of the hybrid planning application by the Otley East Consortium. They say the plan by the Otley East Consortium involving Persimmon and Leeds City Council has totally ignored most of the submissions made by the groups and thousands of residents to a preliminary consultation only four moths ago in January.
CAMPAIGNERS are organising a “community together” response to an application for a major development in Otley which is expected imminently. The East of Otley Action Group wants to ensure that residents in the town work together towards a common goal when the plans for a scheme including hundreds of homes are submitted. The group was created to be a community forum, and along with Otley campaigner Alistair Watson and the ODD campaign, they are working to ensure that the opinions of local people are heard. “We want to hear from as many people as possible to ensure that we get a representative view of what the town really wants.” said a spokesperson from the East of Otley Action Group.
FORMED in response to the planned housing development on the outskirts of town, the East of Otley Action Group (EOAG) will be holding an online public meeting next week. The meeting, which will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 19 at 7pm, aims to update Otley residents on the planning application (which at time of writing has still not been published). It will also share the progress made by the group and related organisations in working to achieve the best possible result for Otley residents and wildlife. “The format of the meeting will be subject to where the planning application is up to, but will include an update on where we are with fundraising, research, lobbying, meetings, work with our legal team, plus there will be time set aside at the end for a Q and A session,” said a spokesperson for the group. “We feel that it’s important to keep in touch with residents by as many means possible and to provide opportunities for questions and discussion.”
A COMMUNITY campaign is gathering pace with a fundraising target of £3,000 to pay for legal advice on the planned Otley East development. The East of Otley Action Group has been created in response to the plan to build 550 new homes and a relief road on greenspace on the outskirts of the town. The group includes Otley 2030, Otley Community Land Trust, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Otley Nature Network, Wharfedale Naturalists and Cambridge Estate Residents, as well as other community, faith, and business groups. Campaigners need to raise funds for legal advice to present the strongest case to influence the current consultation and the planning application, which will be submitted by the Otley East consortium at the end of this month.