SAINSBURY'S is pushing ahead with its plans to build a new store in Otley and this time - it first withdrew the plan two years ago - it seems to be determined to get the scheme through.

Its representatives are talking to as many people as possible, from city and town councillors down to the older residents of Myers Croft, which abuts onto the proposed site off Bondgate. It is under no legal obligation to talk to its possible future neighbours, but the supermarket chain takes the view that it wants to be part of the community and would rather work with the people and try for a compromise.

Commendable enough, but whether at the end of the day its compromises will be more in its favour or the residents, time will only tell. Interestingly, the supermarket's representatives at Monday's town council meeting were keen to point out small shops would not suffer from the new store - only stores of a similar like, such as Safeways obviously.

Everyone seemed to ignore Netto, which clearly has a different sort of attraction. Despite the protestations from some at the meeting that it was rubbish to believe smaller shops would not close as a result of the store moving in, Sainsbury's people said the town would benefit from an influx of Sainsbury's customers who would do their weekly shop and then trip off into the town.

At the end of the day, it's a gamble. There are those who believe Sainsbury's will be good for the town, but there are also those who believe equally strongly it will have dire consequences. Whereas there aren't as many empty shops in the town as there were a few years ago, Otley still has more than its fair share of charity shops and hairdressers - a vibrant town centre it is not. A Sainsburys store might just be what the town needs.

Labour councillors on Otley Town Council have accused Liberal Democrat members of electioneering over Otley Civic Centre. As any user of the civic centre knows, the once grand building is in a deplorable state and now it seems the electrics are in such a bad way the lights can trip if someone is working the microwave at the same time.

The council is hugely divided over the centre. Labour wants to see it brought up to scratch, but the Liberals say enough is enough and efforts should be put into pressing for a new centre - on a completely different site.

Cash strapped Leeds City Council is not going to come up with the cash for a new building - end of story. It might just come up with the money to pay for the roof to be repaired, but a new building....?