MORE than 3,300 people are demanding Otley Civic Centre is saved for the town.

The petition, calling for the centre to be refurbished and not sold off, was handed over on Tuesday to the mayor, Councillor Jonathan Kirkl-and.

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that leaders at Leeds City Council will shortly announce options for the future of the centre.

Following a meeting on Tuesday with members of the Save Otley Civic Centre Campaign Committee, senior Leeds councillor Barry Ande-rson said yesterday that the council was keen to make the right decision.

Coun Anderson, who said he would be reporting back to council leader Andrew Carter and to the council's development department, said: "There needs to be a long term solution for the town council, for the community groups who use the building and for the museum.

"We also need to sort out the disabled access into the building because at the moment, if you are disabled you are precluded from entering the civic centre."

He added that he understood very well the level of feeling in the town.

"People are very passionate about it in all directions."

Phil Coyne, chairman of Save Otley Civic Centre Campaign Committee, said: "We got a very fair hearing and set out our objectives.

"We pointed out that it was the only major facility in the area and that in other areas town halls were maintained by Leeds City Council. We also pointed out that money from the sale of Ashfield Works in Otley could come back to Otley for its benefit."

Town councillors are currently divided over the future of the centre with the majority looking at it being sold off and replaced with a purpose built centre and others calling for it to be refurbished. The council has also given notice that it intends to quit the building, which Labour councillors say should be revoked immediately.

Meanwhile, a furious row broke out at a meeting of Otley Town Council on Monday when Labour party members stormed out after trying unsuccessfully to deb-ate the future of the centre.

Labour members had called a special meeting but it was adjourned after the controlling Liberal Democrat group used council procedure to refer all items concerning the centre to a future meeting of the Executive Board next month.

Despite protests from Labour, who were outnumbered seven to four, the mayor, Councillor Jonathan Kirkland said any discussion about the civic centre could not take place because of council procedure.

After the meeting, Coun John Eveleigh, Labour group leader, said: "We believe there were sufficient grounds to call a special meeting, given the considerable doubt surrounding the future of the centre and the widespread public demand that the centre remains in public use."

Coun Eveleigh added that there were a lot of questions that needed answering.

"People will be absolutely mystified as to why they daren't debate this issue."

But Coun Jim Spencer, chairman of the Executive Board, said Labour members had shown great disrespect.

"If we are to function at all as a council it is essential the standing orders and regulations are compiled with both in spirit as letter. Calling an emergency council meeting simply to receive officers reports with no resolutions or urgent business at all, and then refusing to comply with orders in the meeting speaking out of turn in a display of anarchy, complies with neither.

"I believe the town expects the council to stand up to rogue elements like this who try to push us into chaos and that is exactly what we did on Monday night."