LABOUR has lost control of Otley Town Council.

Liberal Democrat candidates snatched three seats from Labour and took the seat from the council's only sitting Conservative councillor, Gerard Francis, at last Thursday's poorly attended elections.

And now, the council, which meets for the first time on Monday, is split - with seven Liberal Democrats, seven Labour and one Independent.

But the town's Labour group, which called a meeting with the Liberal Democrats and the Independent councillor this week, is fighting for control of the council because it says it polled the largest number of votes.

New councillor Gerald McGowan, Labour leader, said: "As the only party to have fielded candidates in each of the town's five wards and with over 46 per cent of the total votes cast, I feel that we have a responsibility to try and form an administration."

Coun McGowan said he hoped the parties could find a common ground and plan how the council could organise itself ahead of Monday's meeting.

He added: "We have a responsibility to our electors to do whatever we can to make sure that our Building on Success programme is carried out as fully as possible. Our share of the vote gives us a democratic legitimacy which I hope will be recognised in our discussions with the opposition."

Independent, Councillor Nigel Francis, who was re-elected in the Danefield Ward, made a plea for the new council to steer clear of politics.

"I would hope that we can forget about politics and work for the good of Otley," said Coun Francis.

Coun Francis, who would like to be made council leader, said he would like to see the council's committee system streamlined and a fresh approach made to spending priorities.

"The budget is very much tied up for this year, but I would like to see us putting £30,000 to £40,000 into the community on things people can see, like litter bins and seats," said Coun Francis.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Colin Campbell, re-elected in Prince Henry Ward, said it had been an interesting election with voters making it clear what sort of town council they wanted.

"The electorate have had the opportunity to say what town council they wanted and they want a more responsive town council.

"One of the problems with the last town council was that it had become very political. Mine and the other Liberal Democrats' first priority is to get the best for the people of Otley," said Coun Campbell.

He added that he hoped that the new councillors could all work together without letting politics get in the way.

He said: "I am hoping that we can have a situation where we can all work together and put forward some suggestions and policies that will work for the benefit of everyone in Otley."

l Labour polled 46 per cent of the vote with 5,112; Liberal Democrats won 25 per cent of the vote with 2,783; Conservatives polled 2,627, 23 per cent; and 512 voted indepedent, four per cent of the vote.

Manor Ward

(three seats)

John Eveleigh, Lab, 605 (elected); Gerald McGowan, Lab, 530 (elected); Timothy Holden-Rowley, Lab, 480 (elected); Caroline Anderson, Con, 321; Jeanne Richardson, Con, 290. N O CHANGE

Ashfield Ward

(three seats)

Phil Coyne, Lab, 518 (elected); Jennifer Bennet, Lab, 445 (elected); Lawrence Ross, Lib Dem, 413 (elected); Alan Furze, Lib Dem, 389; Garry Cochrane, Lab, 376; Carole Bowes, Con, 277; John Richardson, Con, 274; John Bullman, Con, 271. LIB DEM GAIN 1 FROM LAB

Danefield Ward

(three seats)

Nigel Francis, Ind, 512 (elected); Ruth Blackwell, Lab, 387 (elected); Edwina Harrison, Lab, 301 (elected); Nigel James Gill, Lab, 300; Simon Davies, Con, 250; David Stephenson, Con, 241. NO CHANGE

West Chevin Ward

(three seats):

Graham Kirkland, Lib Dem, 453 (elected); James Spencer, Lib Dem, 373 (elected); Elisabeth Furze, Lib Dem, 314 (elected); Sylvia Reid, Lab, 218; Robert Parr, Lab, 189; Mary Miles, Lab, 188; Richard Cragg, Con, 176. LIB DEM GAIN 2 FROM LAB

Prince Henry Ward

(three seats)

Colin Campbell, Lib Dem, 298 (elected); Christine Campbell, Lib Dem, 290 (elected); John Burland, Lib Dem, 263 (elected); Gerard Francis, Con, 213; Marjorie Dunn, Lab, 204; Ray Dunn, 201; George Ferron, Lab, 170; Michael Charnley, Con, 164; Paul Mowbray, Con, 150. LIB DEM GAIN 1 FROM CON

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.