I AM writing in response to the calls for a referendum on the future of the Civic Centre/Mechanics Institute made by our Member of Parliament.

The petition asks highly leading questions and is, in my opinion completely disingenuous – and I would ask who is being petitioned?

At the council meeting in January, Otley Town Council unanimously passed (Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors) the following resolution: “Otley Town Council strongly supports the work being done by Futurist Sound & Light to build on the feasibility study published by the Civic Centre working group last year. We recognise that this represents the most realistic opportunity for the Civic Centre to be reopened as a public building and we strongly urge Leeds City Council to back the proposals that are being developed by Futurist Sound & Light.”

It is a shame Mr Mulholland does not speak to his party’s town councillors.

It seems self-evident to anyone who has studied this matter in any detail that the council’s agreed position is the most likely to be the route by which the Mechanics Institute is reopened and can become a thriving community entertainment hub.

One wonders why our MP is so fixated with putting office accommodation into the building – I suggest that Otley needs a large theatre/cinema/entertainment space more than offices.

So one is left with a number of questions; l Does Mr Mulholland really want to find a solution?

l Is this an attempt to undermine the excellent work of the Venue 21 team?

l If he is so concerned, why has he not attempted to meet the town council or Venue 21?

Your readers will need to make their own mind up about the motives of our MP, but your editorial of last week pointing out the proximity of the General Election probably hit the nail on the head.

Councillor John Eveleigh

Leader, Otley Town Council