ANOTHER supermarket chain could step in to Otley - now Sainsbury's has pulled out.

Last week, Sainsbury's announced it was no longer interested in building a community store in the town centre.

But developer Litton Properties - which was handling the

application for Sainsbury's - has yet to officially withdraw the store scheme for Bondgate.

It also has an ongoing plan for a residential scheme for the old

tannery in Gay Lane.

Martin Sellens, principal planning officer at Leeds City Council, said yesterday that no formal notification had been received from Litton Properties.

And he said it was entirely possible that Litton might come up with another supermarket chain to take the scheme on.

"The application has been made by Litton Properties and it is only Sainsbury's that has withdrawn, whether Litton now decide to tout it around for another company is entirely up to them."

The application for a 20,000 square foot community store was

submitted in August 1999 and caused controversy in the town, with some saying it would boost the economy, while others claimed it would have a devastating effect on existing businesses.

Since then planning officers and the developers have been trying to come up with a scheme suitable for the site.

Mr Sellens added that although much progress had been made on the store application it had been tailored towards Sainsburys.

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