Otley campaigners put forward alternative bridge proposal

Leeds City Council is planning to build a temporary footbridge over the River Wharfe in Otley which it says is necessary to allow pedestrians to cross the river while the permanent structure at Bridge Street is brought up to modern standards.

But installing the temporary structure would involve the destruction of several trees in Tittybottle Park, including a mature oak thought to be 180 years old, in what campaigners called “wanton destruction of biodiversity”.

With the removal of the trees scheduled for the beginning of December, several groups in Otley have come together to put forward an alternative proposal which they say would save the trees.

Carol Blindell, of Otley 2030, said: “As a group of organisations we are still working to find a way to prevent the loss of a mature oak tree and the disappointing like-for-like replacement of the footbridge on Otley's scheduled monument.

“We are very short on time with the mature oak in the adjacent historic park due to be felled on December 2. We have come up with a workable alternative solution for the footbridge.”

Campaigners at the oak tree in Otley which is due to be felled The new proposals have been sent to Leeds City Council, local councillor Colin Campbell, MP Katie White, and Historic England.

The coalition of groups proposes a new permanent footbridge to run alongside the existing road bridge.

Their report says: “A decision [was] made to patch up the 1950s footbridge which is a reinforced concrete structure attached to the Scheduled Ancient Monument with steel pins. The bridge is understood to be the second oldest working bridge in England.

“The currently proposed ‘solution’ delivers no improvement in foot and cycle travel for Otley residents and necessitates building a temporary footbridge with the concomitant biodiversity loss and carbon emissions.

“The building of a temporary footbridge whilst works to patch up the current footbridge represent a waste of resources and has unacceptable carbon and biodiversity impacts.”

The campaigners say they understand the cost of the bridge renovations will be £3 million, with £2 million of that spent on installing and then later removing the temporary footbridge, which necessitates the removal of the trees.

They say that the £3 million would be better used on a new foot and cycle bridge which can be built while both the current footbridge and road bridge are still in use and this would mean there is no need for permanent loss of trees in Tittybottle Park, temporary traffic lights on the road bridge or a temporary footbridge.

The report adds: “Money which would have been spent on temporary footbridge can instead be spent on a new foot and cycle bridge which promotes active travel and minimises both carbon and biodiversity impact.

“Once the new foot and cycle bridge is operational, the 1950s concrete footbridge can be safely removed thus revealing a view of the Scheduled Ancient Monument not seen for 70 years. This will also stop the ongoing damage to the bridge due to the inserted steel pins.”

The campaigners point to the Millennium Bridge in Castleford, as an example of what can be done, saying it was based on a design “championed by the community after wide stakeholder consultation. A regeneration catalyst focused on the River Aire, the town’s most under-used natural asset, improving public access and enjoyment. Led by Wakefield Council for the good of its residents". 

Earlier this month, when campaigners staged an event to highlight the imminent destruction of the trees in the park, a spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “For pedestrian safety we urgently need to demolish and replace the footway to modern standards, after it coming to the end of its useful life.

“The temporary footbridge will allow these works to Otley footbridge to be carried out safely, with less disruption to vehicle flow across the town and which will continue to enable people to cross the river safely.

“Based on previous experience, it was concluded that any traffic restrictions in Otley town centre would be too disruptive, as ten times as many vehicles to pedestrians use the bridge.

“It is unfortunate that two mature trees will need to be removed to facilitate the installation of the temporary footbridge, however in accordance with the council’s policies, trees will be planted that equate to the carbon value of those lost once the scheme is completed.”