PROTESTERS demanding an Otley lorry ban are to march through the town.

The march, which is due to take place in October, will set off from Newall Carr oad and finish in the town centre.

Organisers hope hundreds of Otley people will join the march as well as residents of lorry-plagued villages Pool-in-Wharfedale, Norwood, Leathley and Farnley.

Spokesman Geoff Wright said the date had been set for October to give Leeds City Council, North Yorkshire County Council and quarry operators Hanson a chance to come up with a solution to the problem of heavy vehicles cutting through the town from Greenhow Quarry at Pateley Bridge.

And he claims as the quarry at Greenhow is in North Yorkshire, it is the county council's problem.

Last month, Hanson, in response to requests from Leeds City Council to moderate the number of HGVs going through Otley, said it would try sending laden vehicles from the quarry through the town, but on their return journey go via Pool-in-Wharfedale, Leathley, Farnley and Norwood.

But both Otley protest group Safety on Otley's Roads (SOOR), town councillors and residents of North Yorkshire villages are against the move, with SOOR demanding nothing less than a total ban on through HGV traffic.

North Yorkshire County Council is also against the diversion through its villages and is seeking an urgent meeting with Leeds.

But SOOR claims since Hanson's quarry at Greenhow is in North Yorkshire, it is the county council's problem.

"We find it amazing as it was the county council who originally directed the quarry traffic away from Pateley Bridge and insisted that access be provided to the Greenhow/Blubberhouse road which led to traffic being routed through Otley.

"The obvious solution is that once the HGVs reach the A59 at Blubberhouses they remain on trunk roads or motorways until they reach their destination and likewise on returning."

Mr Wright added: "This would ensure that Otley, and all the affected North Yorkshire villages, would be spared.

"However, we would maintain that this is the responsibility of North Yorkshire County Council, who originally gave the planning permission for the quarry, to negotiate with the quarry owners rather than Leeds City Council who like the people of Otley were not consulted before this massive increase in HGVs caused chaos in the town."

Meanwhile, for the protest march on October 11, SOOR is looking for people to make placards and banners and is calling on groups and organisations to take part in the march.

Mr Wright said: "It is hoped that residents of other rural communities affected by the menace of quarry vehicles will join forces with the people of Otley to make the event worthy of national attention."

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: "We understand the concerns of the local residents and are continuing to work with all parties involved to find the best solution."