A THREATENED Otley tip is to remain open after a public outcry over its proposed closure to help save costs.

Otley and Yeadon ward councillors Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay say they are delighted that Leeds City Council has had a change of heart and decided to lift the threat of closure facing Otley's Ellar Ghyll waste transfer station.

"This is a victory for common sense," said Cllr Campbell. "We pointed out how well used this facility was and how closing it would lead to increased pollution because of longer journeys to recycling sites plus an increase in fly tipping. The Council have recognised that with their recycling rates stagnating closing this well used facility would be counter productive."

Cllr Downes said: "We have raised this issue repeatedly over the last year and went so far as to propose an amendment to the City Council's budget to keep the site open. Unfortunately Labour voted this down so we are glad to see they have had a change of heart."

Cllr Lay said: "We would like to thank everyone who joined in the campaign to save Ellar Ghyll, including the more than one thousand residents who signed our petition. Recycling is vital to the environment and proposing to remove this well used facility was counter productive especially as Otley has one of the best recycling rates in Leeds."

Just over a year ago local people were asked to give their views on the closure of the household waste recycling centre, and other cost saving measures, as the council looked for ways to address a £119 million gap in its budget for the coming financial year. The closure was seen as a way of saving £110,000 per year.

In February 2021 the council said it had listened to residents’ views in the consultation and was revising proposals for Ellar Ghyll to allow it to remain open at weekend.

But this proposal was criticised by Otley ward councillors who claimed it was “closure by stealth”.

Cllr Lay said: “Leeds admit that their latest suggestion to close the site during the week and only open at weekends is uncosted. They also admit that the proposed limited opening hours cannot deal with the current demand at the site so all the issues related to fly tipping and increased carbon footprint for residents trying to recycle will remain. We are also concerned that this is simply closure by stealth and in a few months time Leeds will say the site is under used and bring forward revised closure proposals.”