OTLEY Town Council has come under fire for not sending a councillor to a Wharfedale Greenway meeting.

The multi-council and Sustrans project aims to create a 'green' travel link for walkers and cyclists between Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

The scheme held its first meeting since the elections last Tuesday, May 19 but no Otley councillors attended - though community development officer Jason Knowles was present.

Otley Labour Party have expressed surprise at the omission, which came just a day after a public declaration by the new (Lib Dem controlled) council that it remained committed to the scheme.

Labour Party member John Eveleigh, who helped form the Greenway partnership while serving as the former Otley council leader, said: "Many residents are surprised that none of our new councillors saw this as a priority.

"Otley has taken a lead role in developing the project and a ‘no-show’ at the first meeting after the election surely sends out all the wrong messages to our partners.

"When asked a direct question from a member of the public at the annual meeting last week, Coun Campbell said 'Wharfedale Greenway is a priority for us and we will continue to drive it forward'.

"The new council must act on its promise. Driving this project needs the active involvement of our new councillors on the Greenway steering group.

"No-one wants to see the project lose momentum."

New council leader Councillor Ray Georgeson (Lib Dem, Danefield), however, dismissed the criticism.

He said: "This remains a priority for us, it was clearly in our manifesto.

"There was a meeting last week at which, because of short notice, I was not able to attend but Jason Knowles was there on behalf of Otley Town council, and as group secretary, and passed on apologies with the reasonable

explanation that we had only just been elected and were in handover.

"I was then appointed as chairman of the group, replacing John Eveleigh, and so retaining the chair for Otley as we continue to drive and support the proposals.

"I will be at the next meeting."

The Greenway steering group contains representatives from Otley Town Council, the parish councils of Burley, Menston and Pool, officers from Leeds and Bradford City Councils, and members of Sustrans.