A row has broken out over the shock closure of Otley's tourist information office.

Angry residents have swamped councillors with complaints about the sudden and unexpected closure of the Boroughgate office.

And councillors are angry they were not consulted about the closure or the possible relocation of the office to the already 'over-stretched' library.

But Leeds City Council chiefs have refused to comment and will not confirm or deny whether the situation is temporary or if the office will be moved to another location.

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) said people were as angry about the tourist office as they had been about the hugely controversial Welcome to Leeds signs at the entrances to Otley.

He said: "Following hard on the heels of the ridiculous saga about signs describing Otley as Leeds, this latest gesture by the Council shows a complete lack of understanding about the needs of local towns and communities in the area.

"As a ward member I have not been consulted about the closure in advance, indeed I was merely informed the centre had closed and that it might - not that it will - reopen in the library.

"Even if it does re-open there, the library has insufficient space for books, let alone for the important services provided by the tourist information centre."

Coun Kirkland said he had written to Denise Preston, acting director of leisure services, asking what was planned for the future.

He said: "With the approach of the main tourist season it is vital for the local economy in Otley that a proper information service for tourists be maintained."

He added that he believed the Council was refusing to comment about the tourist office because it feared another public relations disaster similar to that with the Welcome to Leeds signs.

"I must have had at least 12 people come up to me and complain," he said.

"They feel it is an affront and they also feel it is an affront to have to ring Leeds to find out about something that is going on in Otley."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council's leisure services department said it would not comment on the situation.

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