A MULTI-MILLION pound Sainsbury's in Otley moved a giant step closer to reality this week when city councillors over-ruled planning officers over the siting of the proposed store.

As previously reported, planners had wanted the store to be based at the front of the Bondgate site with the car park at the back because they claimed it would provide easier access to the bus station and fit in better with the rest of the town.

But councillors on the Development Control Panel (West) this week told planning officers that the 20,000 sq ft store will have to be built at the back of the site as originally planned.

Sainsbury's had threatened to pull the plug on the proposed development if they had been forced to build at the front of the site.

Jane Blower, spokeswoman for developers Litton, said: "The meeting was a welcome boost after months of stagnation. We are delighted because there was a real danger that we may have had to pull out and we were greatly concerned with developments.

"The meeting was very helpful and has given us a clear indication at what we have got to look at, such as the design, linkage to the bus

station and boundary treatments. But now we can look forward to trying to get these sorted out as quickly as possible."

Negotiations are still ongoing with West Yorkshire Fire Service to find a replacement site for Otley Fire Station.

Councillor Phil Coyne (Lab, Otley & Wharfedale) said: "I very much welcome this application. It is an engine for considerable regeneration and from an initial position of scepticism, I have developed the view that it will be a considerable boost to the town."

He said he was keen that the supermarket was at the back of the site to increase link shopping and reduce the impact of the supermarket on the town. Other issues raised included building the supermarket from natural stone, increasing cycle access, a bus turntable should be on site, an improved crossing for pedestrians on Bondgate is needed, the corner of Station Road and Bondgate needed protecting from good vehicles, as well as sound absorbers on Station Road.

Councillors and planning officers met at the proposed Bondgate site on Tuesday to discuss a number of issues and thrash out the problems facing the development, which now looks likely to go-ahead.

Leeds City Council has received 42 letters of objection from Otley residents expressing concern over the affect the new store would have on the town's trade and character, the loss of Otley Fire Station and Park Lane College and more traffic congestion.

But councillors believe that these issues are not insurmountable and see the combination of a Sainsbury's and the tannery redeveloped as flats as a major cornerstone in a bid to boost the town's flagging fortunes.

l Meanwhile, Otley town councillors supported Litton's plans to turn the adjoining tannery into 32 apartments at a meeting on Monday night. Litton have already said that they would not go-ahead with the tannery development if the Sainsbury's plans were refused.

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