CAMPAIGNERS fighting to restore rail links to Otley have welcomed a report calling for the reopening of many of the area's disused lines.

The influential Countryside Agency listed the Arthington to Otley and Menston route as one of 20 that could be re-opened.

And Leeds North West MP Harold Best has pledged to do what he can before he retires in two years time to bring rail back to Otley and Arthington as well as establishing links to Leeds Bradford Inter-national Airport.

"I am hoping in the next two years while I'm still in office that we can make progress," he said.

"My argument is that strategically, this would be sensible. We've got the arguments in place, all we need to do now is get onto the top of the list with spending."

He is to meet with Yorkshire Forward to get the government agency's backing and also with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) and is planning to take his argument to the transport minister.

Mr Best accepted that re-establishing the railway line would be no mean feat.

"All of this will be a major engineering project but I think the economic arguments and environmental arguments favour this development."

The influential Countryside Agency's report, out last week, looks at the potential economic and environmental benefits of re-establishing a comprehensive rail network.

It lists up to 20 disused lines, closed since 1948, that could be reopened, including the Arthington to Otley to Menston line, and calls for studies to be carried out on a number of main routes including from Harrogate to Ripon and Northall-erton.

The report will be sent to councils across the region, urging them not to allow new developments to destroy the old routes.

Main author of the report, Dr Paul Salveson of Transport Research and Information Network (TR&IN) said: "Railway re-openings should be a part of a long term strategy for regional development."

David Fanaroff of The Countryside Agency, said the routes were chosen for their potential benefits in economic, social and environmental terms.

"We need to start looking at how we offer people opportunities to get to all sorts of different places by rail," he said.

"By building more dense networks and putting those lines back in use is how we can get people to use rail."

"By building more dense networks and putting those lines back in use is how we can get people to use rail."

As well as developing rail networks in rural areas, the report highlights the advantages of linking Bradford's Forster Square and Interchange stations.

"That will start to open a lot more possibilities up for people," Mr Fanaroff said.

The report examined all the rail lines in the region closed since 1948. Each was assessed by examining the potential benefits in economic, social and environmental terms.

Tourism, ease of re-opening and the contribution to an enhanced regional rail network were also assessed.

The Otley Rail Link Action Group (OLAG) is also looking at commissioning a report by Dr Salveson to present to the transport minister.

Les Cross, of ORLAG, said the group was much encouraged by the Countryside Agency report.

"It is good news that Otley is listed but there is still a long way to go," he said.

The routes highlighted for potential reopening in the Countryside Agency's report include:

l Skipton to Grassington

lEmbsay to Skipton

l Skipton to Colne

l Arthington to Otley to Menston

l Bradford cross-city line

l Low Moor to Thornhill, via Cleckhea-ton