A RADICAL new format with more community input - that's what the chairman of Otley Victorian Fayre wants for this year's event.

Councillor Nigel Francis (Ind) is awaiting the responses from 250 businesses in the town who are being asked for their views on whether it should be a two or four day event.

Their opinions should be known by the end of this month once survey results have been returned and a decision will be made at a meeting in April.

But regardless of the outcome the committee want this year's event to be the biggest and the best.

If it were to be held over four days it would be over the last weekend in November to draw in pre-Christmas crowds and to avoid a potential clash with Otley pantomime.

The event would begin with the switching on of the Christmas lights on the Thursday evening.

Saturday would be a smaller version of the main Friday's events with a market and fairground. The weekend would finish with the Christmas Farmer's market followed by a candlelight procession and carol service.

If it goes ahead as a two-day event, the Fayre will be held on the first weekend in December.

More entertainment is planned for this year than ever before and Councillor Francis hopes to involve the whole community.

Coun Francis said: "I want entertainers on every street corner. I want something to be going on in every nook and cranny in the town with fairground music playing the whole time to create a great atmos-phere. First we need to hear what the traders of Otley want - whether it be a two or four-day event and then we can start planning. I think this is a marvellous opportunity for Otley and I believe we could make the Victorian Fayre a key tourism issue.

"I would like the fayre to be more community orientated. In the past, a lot of the market traders have been brought in from outside. It would be nice if the stalls were held by local businesses, schools who had made crafts to sell and that kind of thing - rather than toys from Taiwan sold by traders from elsewhere.

"I also want the people of Otley to get involved with the event at the time - collecting donations and helping out.

"We really want the fayre to involve everyone and we want to hear what people think.

"Another fayre that has been going for about as long as ours in Otley is the Lincoln Fair.

"That began as a one-day event and has expanded over the years to become a three-day fair. They have added more and more entertainment and as a result are drawing in more crowds. I want Otley to do the same."

Trevor Backhouse, of the Otley Chamber of Trade said: "The Victorian Fayre is good for the town. If people come and enjoy themselves at the fayre they will come back again. Events like this keep Otley on the map. It was a shame we missed it last year though obviously that was a wise decision."

Otley town councillor John Eveleigh said: "If we could get the Otley Victorian Fayre to work as a two or four day event it would obviously be a good thing. There are a lot of practical questions that need answering first however.

"But if this is properly organised, it could be a really good boost for the town. We need to have as many events as we can to draw new people to Otley

"I would be very interested to hear what the traders have to say and key agencies like the police. There needs to be a proper consultation with everyone involved like the residents on neighbouring streets for example."

If you want to get involved contact Coun Nigel Francis on 01943 463467.