Residents and politicians working to ‘save’ a much-loved Otley cafe have been criticised for not talking to its owners.

Dunnies, off Bridge Street, will be demolished if Gladman Care Homes achieves its goal of building a care home on the adjacent, former All Saints Middle School site.

But many in the town have pledged to fight to keep the cafe, which has been running as a popular riverside venue since 1925, going.

MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) is backing a community bid to have the business listed as an Asset of Community Value, while Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) has proposed listing the building.

Yet Dunnies’ owners, Paul and Michael Davies, are looking forward to selling up and enjoying their retirement.

Paul’s daughter, Corrie Foster, said: “I would like readers to be made aware that nobody from the local council has had the common sense or decency to contact the owners of Wharfe View Cafe, or ‘Dunnies’, at any point during the planned re-development.

“I have contacted Coun Downes about this and he ignored my communication and, to date, has still never approached the owners to discuss the situation.

“I have also contacted MP Greg Mulholland as he is publicly support-ing this campaign to ‘save Dunnies’ yet has never contacted the owners, either.

“The owners are both Mr Mulholland’s constituents too, yet he sees fit to act in a way that may disadvantage them without having the decency to contact them.”

Richard Davies is the Otley resident co-ordinating the Asset of Community Value bid which, if successful, would earn residents the chance to to buy the cafe.

He said: “Dunnies cafe, as one of its most popular attractions, is an integral part of the Otley townscape.

“It is a basic and affordable eatery much-loved by daytrippers from across West Yorkshire, due to its perfect location on the Wharfe.

“Its survival would be the perfect legacy to the Tour de France passing through Otley.”

Mr Mulholland said: “Any community has every right to seek to get anything regarded as a local asset listed.

“The whole point is that this is done by the community who are declaring that the asset is important to them and their area, and is not something that involves owners.

“Very often the whole point is to protect something from an owner who is seeking to take away the asset by selling it.

“I have had many people contacting me to say Dunnies is an important amenity and something special to them, as well as important for tourism.

“Owners have every right to object to the listing, but they cannot – and should not – tell a community they can’t do something which is their legal and democratic right to do.

“I remain very disappointed that the developers refused to consider amending their plans to include a cafe.”

Coun Downes added: “I have had no contact from the owners but would be happy to meet them.

“I am not opposed to them selling the business, but have been overwhelmed by people’s passion for the excellent service they have provided.”

  • Gladman had its most recent, 48-flat proposals for the land rejected in June, but is appealing against that decision.