THE MONEY spent on Otley’s unpopular one-way system could have created safe cycling routes around town.

That is the claim being made by Mick Bradley, the Green Party’s candidate for Otley Town Council’s Danefield ward.

The one-way scheme for Charles Street, Walkergate and Nelson Street has been heavily criticised since its introduction last year, and blamed for creating tailbacks and a surge in rat-running.

Mr Bradley says the £30,000 used to create the soon-to-be-abandoned system would have been better spent on improving sustainable transport in Otley.

He said: “That money would have gone a long way to creating safe cycling routes around Otley to give local residents an alternative to the car for short trips to shops, school and services.”