Car boot sale storm

Angry protesters claim the sale is ignoring the plight of farmers in the current foot and mouth disease crisis. And they say by encouraging hundreds of people into the town every Sunday, it is bringing shame on Otley.

But both the owner of the Bridge End site and the organisers of the market say they are acting within the law and will only close if the site ends up in a restricted zone.

This week an Otley vet warned that the event could bring foot and mouth into Wharfedale and the National Farmers Union has said it would prefer it not to go ahead.

Mark Hutchinson, of the Dales Veterinary Centre, says the risk is too great and the event should be closed until the crisis is over.

"It should be shut, there are people coming to it from places were their own car boot sales are shut because they're in infected areas.

"It is certainly possible for these people to bring the virus with them - and it's held right next to a load of sheep."

Mr Hutchinson claimed it was a business decision to keep the sale running that could have catastrophic effects on the whole area.

"It would not exactly be a big deal to cancel the sales, certainly compared to what could happen if the disease comes to our area.

"It is a business decision and I don't think the local community will be too impressed."

Marie Consoli of Farnley Lane added: "At a time when the farming industry is in crisis and Otley is at the very heart of lower Wharfedale, it brings shame on the people of Otley.

"We've got a situation where Badminton Horse trials and Crufts Dog Show have been cancelled but here in Otley we can't even stop a car boot sale.

"It just seems so irresponsible. At one end of Otley we've got the church bells ringing for the farmers, but at the other end we've a car boot sale that is encouraging a gathering of people from all over the country.

Steve Tolley, also of Farnley Lane, added: "It's an absolute outrage, I cannot believe that there isn't someone in some position of authority who cannot force the hand of the owner or car boot organisers to get this closed down immediately."

The site has a public footpath crossing it which sale organisers have cordoned off.

Tony Shaw, from Addingham, one of the organisers of the market, said they had been told by both the police and Leeds City Council that there was nothing to stop the market from going ahead.

"We are keeping a constant eye on the situation and if Otley gets into an exclusion zone we'll shut it down immediately. Any wagon coming from wherever could have things flying off it and going into fields. We're doing our best to do everything the right way."

Karl Kunz, of Parkmount Estates, which owns the site and a farmer in Arthington, said he did not know who the organisers were but that as far as he knew they were not operating on the public footpath.

He added: "I let them use it for free. They're not doing any harm and they do a lot of business."

Tony Bowey, Leeds secretary for the National Farmers Union said it was a moral decision faced by many organisers of events across the country.

He added if the event had to take place they would ask that precautions were taken to reduce the risk of infection.

"Everybody would prefer them not to hold it, throughout the country all sorts of events are being stopped.

"It would be a gesture at least if there was some disinfectant for people to go through."

Mr Shaw said following a recommendation from the NFU they would take precautions at future events and lay disinfectant at the entrance to the sale. "I don't believe there is a problem, and if there was it would be shut straight away.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council's leisure services department said: "Leeds City Council have only closed footpaths and bridleways on grazing land and where they cross land with livestock in as a precaution only in order to help prevent the spread of the foot and mouth disease."