A LORRY ban for Otley could take up to a year - and then only with the say so of North Yorkshire.

If the county council, which will have to endure lorries going through Leathley, Farnley and Norwood, refuses to go along with the Otley ban, it could mean a longer fight including a drawn out public inquiry.

Determined campaigners are pressing ahead for a complete ban on lorries using the town as a short cut and last week met up with Leeds City Council leaders and officers.

Councillor John Eveleigh told Monday's meeting of Otley Town Council that discussions would now take place between Leeds City Council and neighbouring authorities North Yorkshire County Council and Bradford Council.

But he warned that it was likely to be a long drawn out fight with the two councils likely to put up some opposition.

"We need to start talking to the two councils about our intention to go ahead with the ban and they are likely to be hostile," he said.

He said the meeting between officers and councillors, including council leader Councillor Keith Wakefield, had been very positive.

"It was agreed that we should go for an outright ban, but that there are difficulties attached to that.

"It will have to be referred to the Secretary of State and the best way to start is to do some work with Bradford and North Yorkshire to try and get them on board.

"If we can get the support of the two councils that would be a good indication to the secretary of state and the ban could be granted in a reasonably quick time of about 12 months, if we don't get the agreement of the councils, it will take longer."

Coun Eveleigh said the intention was to stop lorries from entering the town and not just placing a weight limit on Otley Bridge - as had been suggested before.

"We want to hold out for an outright ban and not just a weight limit on the bridge.

"North Yorkshire County Council has created this problem by upgrading its roads and caused this trash to come through Otley."

Coun Eveleigh urged any councillors who had colleagues in North Yorkshire or Bradford to talk to them and attempt to get their support.

Phil Coyne, spokesman for action group Safety on Otley Roads (SOOR), said: "The councillors agreed that the amount of traffic north of the river was unreasonable and unsafe and that measures must be introduced to halt the flow of HGVs.

"The initial aim is to arrange a meeting with North Yorkshire County Council with the intention of forming a partnership to jointly tackle the problem and direct the traffic away from Otley."

Mr Coyne added that the group was well aware of the strength of feeling in the town.

"Although we would be happy to cooperate with any partnership with North Yorkshire and quarry owners Hanson to halt the traffic, our target remains one of the imposition of a complete ban on HGVs other than for access."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said the council was aware of the problems caused by heavy traffic.

"We're in talks with various authorities over a possible solution to the problems.

"We are aware of the problems being caused along the lorry routes and there needs to be a sensible solution, but it may be that there needs to be a compromise."

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