A NEW community ownership group could be about to start in Otley.

A number of residents believe such an organisation would help positively shape the town's development - and will hold a public meeting next week to discuss its formation.

They envisage the group playing a key role in everything from revitalising underused facilities to addressing the lack of affordable and sustainable local housing.

One of those behind the idea, Sam Lawson, said: "The potential is huge: publicly-owned buildings and land are currently being transferred into private ownership, but instead they could be taken on by a group of local people.

"The assets could then be managed or redeveloped for community use, and their value could be used to access finance for further projects.

"One option would be to form a Community Land Trust, allowing the group to purchase buildings or land which are then permanently held in collective ownership.

"A community share issue could help raise the starting capital."

Open to all, the meeting will take place at Clitherow House, on Manor Square, from 7.30pm on Wednesday, July 6 and will hear from three speakers.

They will include Richard Norton, from established community group the Headingley Development Trust - who converted an old school into a thriving HEART centre - and Jimm Reed of Leeds Community Homes.

Also speaking will be Vivienne Duke from the Emerald Field Project, which is looking into how to bring Otley Civic Centre* back into community use.

Similar grassroots groups, made up of residents teaming up to improve their local infrastructure, have been springing up across the country.

Town Councillor Mick Bradley (Green, Danefield), who is aiming to attend the meeting, said: "At a time when more than one thousand new homes are scheduled to be built in Otley, a group like this could help make sure that any development is more suited to the needs of local people."

Sam and the other community group organisers can be contacted by sending an e-mail to meeting6716@gmail.com .

*A Grade II Listed Building, the Civic Centre has been closed since May, 2010 and owners Leeds City Council are actively marketing it.

Campaign group Give Otley its Town Hall!, however, is urging the authority to invest in refurbishing the front half of the property so it can be reopened and once again serve the town.