HEAVY traffic trundling through the town has emerged as one of the biggest problems facing Otley.

A lack of affordable housing and good public leisure facilities have also been thrown up during an in depth study into the town.

The feasibility study, which has been carried out by London based Building Design Partn-ership (BDP), as part of the Market Towns Initiative - which last year saw Otley being awarded £340,000 - will be unveiled at a public meeting next week.

The study, which is half way to being finished, will form an action plan for the town and its surrounding villages and communities which it is hoped will be brought into play in the next three years.

Stephen Potter, BDP consultant, said Otley was a town with a lot going for it, but with some clear problems.

"The intensity of heavy traffic through the town centre clearly poses a problems to individuals and the town as a whole. A lack of leisure facilities and affordable housing are clearly other aspects which appear to be emerging at this stage.

"Otley certainly has a lot of potential, for example the tourism potential is quite untapped at the moment and it does have a lot going for it, it a unique place and has so much character."

He said the aim of the action plan would be to recommend where the £340,000 allocated from Yorkshire Forward and the Countryside Agency, but also the expected other money from various other sources including the National Lottery and Leeds City Council.

He said: "A feasibility study aims to capture the current context of a town, its historical background and cultural heritage, along with the different residential and business contexts.

"The aim is to establish a view which will identify opportunities for future development which will support the various facets of Otley's townlife."

One of the first uses of the money will be to employ a project manager who will double as a town centre manager.

"A project manager will be appointed quite soon by Otley Town Partnership and his job will be to implement the action plan projects, he will also double as a town centre manager with a whole range of roles," said Mr Potter.

Otley Mayor, Councillor Phil Coyne, chairman of Otley Town Partnership, said: "I really do urge residents and business people who are directly involved with Otley to attend what I believe will be seen as a very important meeting in gaining views for the Market Towns Initiative development proposals.

"For the first time for decades, Otley is going to benefit from a substantial investment of mon-ies.

"I don't think it is too much to ask people who have particular interests in gaining support from these funds, to give up part of an evening to come along and find out what BDP are considering in their feasibility study."

Mr Potter added that clearly the £340,000 from Yorkshire Forward and The Countryside Agency would not go a long way in regenerating the town and its surrounding communities.

"This will start the ball rolling and implement a few important but small scale projects to start the thing off."

He added in his experience of dealing with other towns selected for Market Towns status, the initial money was a lever for getting other funding.

l The public meeting to discuss the proposals will take place next Wednesday (Jan 30) from 7.30pm at Otley Civic Centre.