The Campaign

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Report any vandalism: or other suspicious happenings (see blow) to the police and to sosotley@f2s.com.
Write to the directors of Chartford Homes who need to know that they face a sustained and well supported campaign. Why don't they change direction and make money out of the Summercross as a thriving pub? Click here and go to the end of that page for their names and addresses.
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Thank you for visiting our website, please return frequently as much is happening.

When word spread that the Summercross was to close the local community was both surprised and outraged. A number of events were arranged at very short notice. From these activities a campaign group has emerged to continue the fight (a) to block any redevelopment of the site, and (b) to reverse the unexpected and unwelcome closure.

Much is going on behind the scenes, what follows is a brief overview of what has happened in public (also see the photographs page).

6 October 2007: Protest staged at the pub and group formed to oppose the closure:

18 December 2007

Twenty four formal Rights of Way evidence forms from long-term local residents where submitted to Leeds City Council (LCC) testifying to the unrestricted pedestrian route across the Summercross carpark from East Busk Lane to the junction of Danefield Terrace and Ings Lane. This submission was a response to the previous day when workmen, presumably employed by Chartford Homes, fenced off the carpark thus blocking a right of way which has existed for at least 120 years.

A letter dated 2 January 2008 from the definitive map officer at LCC confirms receipt of the application to modify the map but warns that there is a backlog of 45 applications waiting to be processed.

The consequences of the fencing have also been raised with other branches of LCC including Planning (the proximity of high fencing to a public highway) and Street Works Manager (the risk to pedestrians). The latter has responded indicating that there is nothing he can do because the section of Ings Lane adjacent to the car park is not maintained at public expense (and therefore it is a private street). This statement does not however align with local knowledge - who does own it? We know that it is not part of the Summercross site (Land Registry title number WYK 643542) and that LCC own the public park on the other side of the lane. Below Danefield Terrace the ancient lane give access to a number of houses and some allotments.

Does anyone know who owns Ings Lane?

An award ceremony was held outside the pub to allow CAMRA to present their most improved pub in the Leeds district award to the Summercross (the pub was closed down before the award could be presented). As the owners of the pub, Chartford Homes where invited to receive the award from CAMRA. Three people from Chartford Homes attended, but only as observers. They refused to receive the award which was received by Shirley Lewis of SOS Otley to hang above the bar of the re-opened Summercross. See the press coverage below.

Subsequently a letter was sent to Chartford Homes asking them to confirm in writing the assurances given at the time to the local MP.

SOS Otley succeeded in gaining an additional Tree Preservation Order covering the large Sycamore tree in the Summercross garden and all the adjacent trees in the Park (this increases the existing protection provided by the Otley Conservation Area).

The campaign noticed (and started to highlight) a major error in the planning application drawings for the housing development. The adjacent trees in the Park are drawn displaced 5m towards the Pool Road. Click here to see this error!

SOS Otley succeeded in extending the deadline for objecting to the planning applications to 19 March. Click here for information.

Tree related extract from a letter from Gareth Jones (planning officer) to Greg Mulholland (MP):

"It is difficult to compare accurately both drawings as the plan supplied with the arboricultural survey appears to have been reduced to the paper size and as such the 1:200 scale is no longer accurate. However, the plans are sufficiently clear to make some interpretations and following observations from my recently completed site visit I can confirm that there do appear to be inaccuracies and discrepancies both in the exact location of the tree trunks and the amount to which the canopies overhang the site.

I have informed the Landscape Officer who has yet to undertake a site visit but will be doing so in the near future. Following his site visit and our subsequent discussions we are likely to seek further clarification or amended plans from the developer regarding the trees.

I cannot comment on why the apparent discrepancy has occurred and in the absence of any evidence to the contrary must assume that any errors are not deliberate. It is an offence to give false or misleading information and this is stated on the application forms. Such an offence is not covered in Planning legislation and therefore you may need to seek independent legal advice regarding the repercussions of a false declaration. A decision to approve an application containing false/misleading information could be open to Judicial Review.

I have forwarded a copy of your letter dated 15th February relating to the Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) to a Landscape Officer as he is the most qualified to respond to such matters. The impact of the proposal on Trees is a material consideration in this application and regardless of any protection conferred by a TPO; the trees are protected, as they are located within a Conservation Area."

Leeds Planning release their formal decision on the demolition application:

"the existing public house makes a significant positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Otley Conservation Area due its substantial, stone built, period form and its occupation of such a prominent position at the entrance to the historic core of Otley. Its demolition would therefore result in a significant detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the Otley Conservation Area by removing a landmark building which provides an anchor to the Conservation Area. The applicant has also failed to make a reasonable case to justify the demolition of the property and alternative proposals for the site have not been approved."

"the [ripening] wall along East Busk Lane makes a significant positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Otley Conservation Area due its substantial, stone built, period form. Its substantial alteration and partial demolition would therefore result in a significant detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the Otley Conservation Area by removing a landmark structure which forms the boundary of the Conservation Area at this point. The applicant has also failed to make a reasonable case to justify the substantial alterations and partial demolition of the wall". Click here for background information on the ripening wall.

Click here to read the full planning decision.

Having closed a thriving pub, and had a highly questionable planning application refused, Chartford Homes let three months slip by possibly hoping that SOS would not notice. Fortunately Save Our Summercross did notice, and took the opportunity to remind Chartford Homes of their anti-social behaviour.

Click here for the Publicity page.