HAROLD Best MP is pressing ahead with a total lorry ban for Otley.

Mr Best said yesterday his ultimate aim was to prevent lorries, with the exception of those based in the town and those making deliveries, from using Otley as a short cut to major routes.

The Leeds North West MP, who spoke at Saturday's protest which saw 300 people march through the town, said he was in discussions with quarry operator Hanson and officers from both North Yorkshire County Council and Leeds City Council.

In the shorter term, he said he was backing moves to build the East of Otley bypass as the first step in removing some heavy traffic through the town, but that his ultimate aim was to get through lorries banned.

"We have got to maintain what we have to a particular objective and that is banning through vehicles. We should do anything that we can do to encourage that and I think a bypass would encourage it," he said.

Meanwhile, Leeds City Council's Scrutiny Board was today due to receive a report on heavy goods traffic in Otley.

The report states that the east of Otley relief road, which would start from the Leeds Road roundabout and pass behind the Cambridge estate to the Pool Road, would reduce HGV traffic.

It adds that Hanson's change to its routes, which saw only one way traffic going through the town and returning via Pool, Lindley, Farnley and Norwood, had seen a reduction on average per day from 145 from February to May this year to 80 per day during July to September.

It accepts that summer holidays would have had an impact and that it should continue to be monitored. The report concludes that the situation should continue to be monitored and that plans are being made to put up warning signs and other safety measures.