OTLEY Civic Centre campaigners are demanding action from leading figures at Leeds City Council.

The Give Otley Its Town Hall! (GOITH) campaign has written an open letter to council Leader Councillor Judith Blake and Lord Mayor Councillor Gerry Harper.

In it, both Labour councillors - who though representatives for Leeds wards are Otley residents - are asked to 'step in to save the Civic Centre from development'.

The Grade II Listed property has been closed since 2010 but last October the council announced it was considering three shortlisted redevelopment schemes.

The fact one of those proposals was to convert the building into homes enraged campaigners - and in their letter they urge Cllrs Blake and Harper to 'block' any such move.

It says: "Otley residents need your help and they need it now.

"We are writing to urge you to block plans to dispose of Otley Civic Centre for residential development and ensure it continues to be a community facility."

The letter goes on to point out that what was then the Mechanics' Institute was gifted to the town in the 1950s, only passing into the legal possession of Leeds in 1974.

It also asks for the council to seriously consider GOITH's own redevelopment proposal for the building.

That scheme, estimated by local builders to cost £1.5 million, would see the front part of the Civic refurbished so it could be used as a base for the town council and a large theatre.

Campaign Chairman Tom Featherstone said: "The two main figures at the helm of Leeds, Judith Blake and Gerry Harper, live in Otley so residents are calling on them to give Otley a fair deal, give us our town hall and refurbish Otley Civic Centre.

"Judith and Gerry will be well aware of the civic pride held by people in Otley, but they will also know residents often feel hard done by, by Leeds, not least over the Civic which the council owns yet is refusing to restore.

“We have so far gained more than a thousand signatures in support of our simple and affordable proposal to refurbish the front building, and we want to hear Judith and Gerry say they will support this."

The message is being backed by Independent Town Councillors Steve and Jackie Brown, who say allowing the property to be turned into flats would be 'a disgrace'.

A Leeds City Council spokesman, responding on behalf of Cllrs Blake and Harper, said: "We would like to reiterate that no decision has yet been made about the future usage of Otley Civic Centre.

"The potential schemes put forward are being assessed and evaluated, with the shortlist now being down to two options which the council consider viable for the long-term future of the building.

"These have been discussed with Otley councillors and Otley Town Council and the next stage is for the applicants to submit further details which will go out for public consultation.

"A final report will then be considered by the Executive Board later this year."