SUE Egan is stepping down after four years at the helm of Otley Town Council.

After eight years as a town councillor, representing the residents of Manor ward, the leader of the Labour-run council will not stand in next month's elections. Her husband David, town councillor for the West Chevin ward, is also standing down, because of new commitments at work.

Both hope the step will also allow them to spend more time together. And Sue aims to find a publisher for a novel she has written and to complete a second one.

"I have been on the council for the past eight years and I was standing in elections for five years before that, so it feels like quite a long time," she said. "Now I want to see what else I can do and I feel I owe it to myself to see if I can earn a living through writing.

"I have really enjoyed my time on the council and I would not have missed it. We feel like we've made our contribution and are looking forward to still being involved with community groups and organisations, but I do want to develop my own career."

Coun David Egan has spent the last 18 months juggling a heavy work schedule with town council meetings.

He said: "Changing work commitments mean I no longer have the time to give to my council work, which I have greatly enjoyed.

"Sue and I wish our successor councillors all the best in what is a very demanding but fulfiling role."

Both said the best news they could have on leaving the council would be to hear that the campaign to keep Wharfedale General Hospital in Otley had been successful.

One considerable cause for regret for Coun Sue Egan however, was in giving up the opportunity to become Mayor of Otley for the coming year.

As leader and deputy mayor she would, if re-elected, be the most likely candidate for the civic position from 1999 to the year 2000.

She said: "I do regret not being mayor, although it would not have been an automatic appointment, and it was something I had to balance with everything else when deciding what to do."

But she will carry with her a great deal of pride at many of the successes of Otley Town Council during her time as leader. "I am particularly proud of the independent success of projects we have supported including Otley Action for Older People and Space to Grow," she said.

"Our partnership approach has seen great benefits to the town, enabling us to bring in outside funding to improve bus services, participate in conservation work in the town centre and refurbish the Civic Centre, including the Norman Hindle Foyer and Chippendale Room."

Town and city councillor John Eveleigh paid tribute to the work of both Couns Egan.

He said: "David and Sue will be greatly missed. They have played a tremendous role in opening up the town council to be more representative of the wider community."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.