HAROLD Best this week gave his vote to the Wharfedale Observer's Missing Link campaign.

The Labour MP for Leeds North-West told the Wharfedale to count on his support in the bid to secure a bus link between Otley and Menston railway station.

Mr Best said he was very enthusiastic about the fight to improve public transport in Wharfedale and had campaigned for similar measures himself.

And he gave the initiative full marks. "Yes, yes and yes - five stars for this campaign," he said.

"I'm very much with the Town Partnership on this one and with Otley Town Council, I think it's a very good idea."

Mr Best is among the 419 MPs currently in the House of Commons who signed a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) backing the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill.

The Bill is setting out to reduce traffic by ten per cent by the year 2010. If passed, the Government will have to bring down road traffic levels by five per cent by the year 2005 and a further five per cent by 2010.

To achieve those targets the Government will have to encourage more sensible car use while investing in alternatives such as better public transport, as well as improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Best has been advocating such an approach for some time, particularly as a key feature of his 1997 election campaign.

He said: "I have been campaigning myself for such a link and I would also like to see a fast bus service between the villages on Pool Road and Otley. I am very enthusiastic about it."

By securing the regular bus service to and from Menston railway station more people may be encouraged to leave their cars at home. The Partnership hopes this will, eventually, reduce congestion and pollution on our roads particularly to business centres in Leeds and Bradford.

The long-term target is for Otley's own railway station but Partnership members hope an interim bus link would go a long way towards relieving traffic problems in and around the town.

l To add your voice to the campaign for Otley's Missing Link, simply complete this form and send it to 9 Orchardgate, Otley LS21 3NX. Alternatively, register your support on the petitions in our office.

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