A public meeting has been called in Otley for the town’s athletic club to share their plans for a running track and sports centre and to help forge links with other sporting organisations.

Over the past few months, Otley Athletics Club have been looking into the viability of a running track, and now believes the time is tight to create an “Olympic legacy” available to all within the lower Wharfe Valley area.

The meeting is being held next Wednesday in the Horse & Farrier pub in Bridge Street from 7.45pm.

Otley AC member Simon Anderson, who is spearheading the campaign, said: “Several locations and various options for a track and clubhouse are currently being considered which, when complete, we hope will be a facility for the whole community.

“We are very keen to talk to other parties such as sports and health clubs and local schools, because we are proposing a full-time resource that will be self-funding – but to get the project up and running we need the help of people with specific skills such as funding, finance and design.

“This is a much-needed facility that will help boost sporting standards across the area, so if people want to get involved in sport on the back of what they have seen at the Olympics, then ‘back the track’.”

Anderson added: “If you currently want to use a running track you have to travel to Harrogate, Leeds or Keighley – there just isn’t one in this area, and it’s time we had one if we are to pass the baton to future Olympians.”

The idea has already gained the backing of the town’s MP Greg Mulholland, himself no stranger to sport having this year taken part in the Jane Tomlinson Tenth Anniversary Challenge, said a track would be “a great asset to the area”.

He stated: “It is vital more people are supported and encouraged to follow in the footsteps of heroes such as Lizzie Armitstead and the Brownlee brothers, and have the space to explore their true potential.”

Anyone interested in going to the meeting should phone Richard Hamer, the campaign’s communications director, on 07906-686596 or e-mail Anderson at mrsimonanderson@yahoo.co.uk