A DATE has been set for the scrapping of Otley's controversial one-way system.

Walkergate and Charles Street will revert to two way traffic from the evening of Friday, June 5. But the Nelson Street one way stretch from the Charles Street junction up to the bus station will remain as it is now.

The scheme attracted widespread condemnation from residents and traders when it was introduced last year with complaints that it was causing bedlam on the roads.

It caused long tailbacks at peak times, and a petition to have it changed or scrapped altogether gathered around 900 signatures.

This week Otley Lib Dem city councillor Sandy Lay welcomed news that a date had been set for the abandonment of the Walkergate/Charles Street one way scheme.

He said: "I'm pleased that Highways have now listened to mine and the communities demands that the one way system be changed back. Despite being the only councillor to initially object to the scheme I have worked tirelessly to find solutions to everyone's needs since the scheme was first introduced. This has meant that I have somewhat acted as a 'lightning rod' for the communities anger, particular from those on the East of Otley.

"I am aware that the city councillors have previously written to the residents of Walkergate, Charles St and Nelson St informing them of the plan. I will now be writing to them to let them know of the implementation date. Finally I have enormous sympathy for the residents and I am disappointed that I cannot seem to find a solution that meets everyone's needs whether residents, the wider town's and Highway's."

He added: "As I say in my letter to residents I am saddened that they have had to 'suffer' for the 'greater good' and all I can say is that I will continue to work to find an acceptable solution for them."

In March this year councillors called for the controversial system to be suspended, and Otley Town Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh raised the issue with the leader of Leeds City Council, Coun Keith Wakefield.

The cross-party call for change came as residents affected by a linked upsurge in rat-running repeated their pleas for action.

Householders on streets including Crow Lane, Ings Lane, Danefield Terrace and Side Copse saw the problems soar after the introduction of the scheme.

When the system was introduced last October it was slammed as idiotic by residents, who said it was causing traffic chaos.

Complaints about the scheme flooded in, with local people saying it was causing tailbacks and even gridlock.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland wrote to Leeds City Council to raise his concerns and ask what had been done to predict the impact of the system before it was approved.