Otley and Wharfedale councillor Graham Kirkland losing his seat on Leeds City Council was greeted with shock not only by his colleagues but also by those on opposition parties. Coun Kirkland had been a member of the city council for 36 years and was the only Otley councillor to have ever been made Lord Mayor of Leeds.

So long had he served the people of Otley and Wharfedale that his presence on the city council was more or less regarded as a permanent fixture. A councillor of the old school, Coun Kirkland always had time for his constituents and was always ready to do what he could to solve the smallest of problems.

More than a few of Dr Kirkland's patients must have been used to him taking time out from a consultation to deal with a council matter. He always had the best interests of his ward at heart and never shied from saying what he believed.

Coun Kirkland will carry on as an Otley town councillor and will no doubt continue to put in as much effort and dedication as he has always done - his is an example that some other councillors might do well to follow.

Welcome news from college

Those who have returned to education and are making the most of the excellent facilities at the Otley Centre of Park Lane College will be comforted by the words of the principal, Tony Longworth.

Mr Longworth has confirmed that there is no risk of the college upping sticks and leaving the town - even if the building has to make way for a new Sainsbury's supermarket. He says the college is to talk with Sainsbury's about the possibility of incorporating the centre in the new store - and even if that is impossible, somewhere else will be found.

Even more, so successful has the Otley centre been that there are hopes that it is to be expanded, and, if this is a real possibility, then that is good news for Otley and all those who study at the centre.