ANTI-lorry campaigners in Otley have cleared a major hurdle in their bid to force an HGV ban.

Yesterday, Leeds City Council agreed to go ahead with initiating traffic regulation orders that will see quarry traffic banned from entering the town from the north of the river.

But the council's Executive Board said consultation would now have to take place with neighbouring councils Bradford and North Yorkshire for their approval.

If they refuse to support the ban, the issue will have to be referred to the Deputy Prime Minister's office for approval - which could take many more months.

John Eveleigh, chairman of campaign group Safety on Otley's Roads (SOOR), speaking after yesterday's meeting, welcomed the decision but was disappointed that it could not be implemented straight away.

"What we have been left with is a little unclear. It looks like they will instigate the traffic regulation order but there will have to be further consultation with North Yorkshire County Council and after that there will have to be another report to the Executive Board."

But he added it was good news for Otley.

"It is definitely a step forward. North Yorkshire is not going to be interested in supporting us, but we got what we wanted from the meeting and hopefully things will move a bit more quickly from now on."

All three Otley and Yeadon ward councillors, Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Graham Kirkland have supported calls for a ban.

Coun Downes said: "We welcome the news that the ban is one step nearer.

"Over the years, Otley residents have had to endure ever larger and noisier HGVs running down residential streets to pass through the town.

"For safety reasons alone, the ban was needed and now after much discussion it looks as though it will happen soon. I hope the ban can be implemented quickly."

But he warned that if objections were made, the final decision would rest with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Coun Campbell added that the ban would take in Farnley Lane - to stop lorries using it as a shortcut via Norwood to get to the quarry near Pateley Bridge.

"We were concerned that a ban on Carr Bank, though solving a problem there, would just encourage HGVs to travel via Norwood and then down Farnley Lane into Otley.

For this reason, we have pressed for and had included in the proposal an extension to the ban which would prevent lorries using Farnley Lane as a short cut."

Coun Kirkland added that he hoped that North Yorkshire would implement its own ban.

"We understand that simply putting a ban on roads in Otley will have a knock on effect on Farnley, Leathley and Pool-in-Wharfedale.

"It is for this reason we are pleased that the council's Executive Board have added a further recommendation to North Yorkshire County Council.

"If they choose to implement it, there would be restrictions at Blubberhouses to encourage HGVs to stay on the A road network and so avoid the Wharfe Valley altogether."