Community response to East of Otley plan

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.

“We haven’t seen the planning application yet but we are very concerned that requests for a high-quality exemplar development are being ignored.”

Anyone who wants to support the East of Otley Action Group’s work, can donate to their appeal to pay for a legal challenge, at https://uk.gofundme.com/f/east-of-otley-development-community-legal-advice?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer

The current fundraising target of £3,000 has been surpassed, and the total now stands at £4,335. But the group is confident that they will need further funds once the planning application has been published.

Anyone interested in getting involved is invited to the group’s online AGM on Monday, May 10 at 7.30pm, at which there are 100 place available.

Campaigners plan to expand membership, elect officers and discuss the planning application.

To join the meeting, sign up to be a member of East of Otley Action Group - at eastofotleyaction.co.uk, and then register for the meeting at zoom link:

https://zoom.us/j/91812134083?pwd=eGtUdDhmWVRoTTBZOTlEVkZPeHk3QT09

On its fundraising page the group says: “The East of Otley development will add 550 homes and a relief road on the outskirts of Otley. It is the largest local development for decades and is of huge importance to all members of the Otley community. The publicly available plans neither address the priorities of the community as laid out in the Otley Neighbourhood Plan, nor reflect an understanding of recent regional and national commitments to tackle the climate, ecological and inequality crises that we face.

It adds: “There is an opportunity and requirement for an exemplar development, and this is not reflected in the plans. Our community campaign (including Otley 2030, Otley Community Land Trust, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Otley Nature Network and other local community, faith and business groups) will organise working groups and liaise directly with the consortium’s consultants responsible for different elements of the development. The intention is to work through in detail the site masterplan and address conflicts as early as possible, recognising that responsibility for the success of this process does not lie solely with the community.”

It continues:”There are strong feelings against the development, and some in support of it, but we believe that the consensus is that IF the development is to go ahead, it needs to honour the Otley Neighbourhood Plan and ‘Do the right thing’ by our community, nature and the planet.”

In a public announcement in January the consortium behind the scheme said:”Ahead of the submission of a formal planning application the Otley East Consortium are delighted to invite you to view early plans for ‘Otley East’ -an exciting new mixed-use scheme, complete with new relief road, on land to the East of Otley. The application site is allocated by Leeds City Council for housing, employment, a new two-form entry primary school, elderly housing and greenspace/open space associated with a major housing proposal. The allocation brings with it a major road scheme (East of Otley Relief Road). It is our intention to submit a hybrid planning application to the Local Planning Authority seeking full detailed planning permission for the relief road, the first phase of residential development, the relocation of the sports training pitches, landscaping and open space and outline planning permission for the balance of the allocation.”