CALLS for closed circuit television cameras to make Otley town centre safer have been backed by the new Chamber of Trade president.

Jonathan Rutter said that CCTV was one of his three main priorities for his year as president and that getting cameras into the town centre would be a major boost for trade in Otley.

Mr Rutter, manager at the HSBC Bank in Crossgate, said: "It is important that we have another go at exploring the possibility of getting CCTV for the town.

"It is reassuring for the public and businesses and the more city centres get these sort of schemes, the more likely it is that the people who carry out nefarious acts are likely to come to outer towns like Otley.

"If you look around at similar towns, Ripon has got it, Horsforth is getting it, Keighley is getting it and I was

driving through Driffield the other week - which is similar in size to Otley - I noticed they had it there too. I see no reason why Otley cannot get it.

"It is early days yet and we need to find out exactly what it is and exactly how we can get it. I realise that this is something which has already been talked about before in Otley but this isn't something which is going to happen overnight."

Mr Rutter also said that he aims to encourage first-time businesses to open in Otley.

"I would like to see people who are setting out in business and who want to go it alone coming to Otley and opening up. I have a meeting with the Business Link Leeds

organisation later this week to see how they can help encourage new business to come to Otley.

"This is the area I would like to concentrate on most in my year as president."

His third aim for the coming year is to increase membership of the Chamber, which is slowly growing and currently stands at 55, and also encourage the number of active members who attend meetings.

"I genuinely feel that both Otley and trade in Otley is moving on from a position of strength. As president I always encourage people to 'talk up' the place because there are a lot of positive things happening," he added.

Mr Rutter, 38, said that he has always been interested in joining community organisations in the numerous towns and cities he has worked in throughout his 18-year career. He moved to Otley last July and is married with two

children.

l The next Otley Chamber of Trade Business Seminar will be held on Tuesday, May 15 at the Manor Club (6.15pm). There will be a talk on stakeholder pensions and associated legislation.