CONTROVERSIAL plans to close some Otley primary schools must not be allowed to split the town, say town councillors.

Parents are being urged to accept the decision when it is made in August and move quickly to repair any wounds.

But they have been warned whatever decision is made, for many - who will see their schools close for good - it will inevitably be the wrong one.

A report is to go to Leeds City Council's Executive Board in August and if everything goes as planned a final decision will be made within two months by outside body, the Schools Organisation Committee.

A specially called Otley Town Council meeting this week heard councillors restate their backing for all five schools included in the proposals to be treated equally.

Parents were told that the council supported original - but since amended - plans by Education Leeds which suggested five infant and junior schools be closed and replaced by three new primaries.

Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh said the council had been unanimous in its decision made in March not to take sides with any particular school but did believe all should be treated the same.

"This is a thorny subject and potentially very divisive in the community.

"As this council does not have a role in the decision-making process, it was thought best to make a general comment.

"But we do agree that all schools should be treated in the same way and that they all should close and reopen as three new schools," he said.

Coun Eveleigh, who has a daughter at All Saints Junior School and is a governor at All Saints Junior and Ashfield Infants, said most members of the council had an interest in one or more of the schools involved.

"We said back in March we did not want to get into a divisive situation where one school was saying it was better than another and unfortunately, a certain amount of that has crept in.

"At the end of the day we have got to pull together because this is a community matter. It is not just for our children now, but for children in many years to come."

Coun Eveleigh denied that there had not been enough time spent on public consultation.

"I don't want any longer than necessary to get this sorted out. It does have an effect on our schools and it does have an effect on the way children behave," he said.

Coun Graham Kirkland, whose wife is a governor at All Saints Infants and Junior schools, added: "At the end of the day, whatever decision is taken it will be the wrong decision.

"When this is all over we will need to pull together with whatever schools are left. It will do no good in a year's time to still be going on about it and it is important that after the Executive Board makes its decision it is put into practice without delay."

After the meeting, John Soussan, of Otley All Saints Junior School action group, said he was pleased that the council believed all schools should be treated equally.

But he added the possible closure and redevelopment of the North Parade school had extensive implications for the whole of the town.

"We take the point that people don't want to delay this, but we cannot push this through."

A spokesman for Education Leeds said: "At the end of the two month statutory objection period, we have received around 150 submissions and one petition in response to the proposals to reorganise schools in Otley.

"These will be looked at in detail and a report will go to the council's Executive Board on August 22."

The Executive Board will then either proceed with the proposals or take a different course of action.

If the proposals are accepted, a report will go to the Schools Organisation Committee - a statutory body, independent from the council and with representatives from several organisations.

The committee will have two months to make a final decision with a way forward expected in late October.

l Education Leeds, the education arm of Leeds City Council, plans to close All Saints Junior, All Saints Infants, Westgate Infants, Ashfield Infants and Chippendale Primary.

Primary schools for four to 11-year olds will be created by a change of character of Westgate Infants and Ashfield Infants, but the two Church of England schools will be closed entirely and be reopened on the infant school site - with existing staff and governors having to apply for the jobs..