Angry residents halt work on new footpath

Councillor Stuart Andrew (Con, Aireborough) was called by people living at Crofters Lea to stop contractors ripping out trees by the old railway line on Tuesday while the plans were urgently reassessed by the council.

Work has now stopped on site until the council reaches a decision on whether to continue with the original plans, redesign them, or abolish the idea altogether.

The footpath is to allow disabled access from the bottom of Crofters Lea down the old railway embankment to Milner's Road.

But the plans mean the path would be 100 feet long leading only to the unadopted road and a muddy track unsuitable for wheelchairs.

Coun Stuart Andrew said: "As part of the planning agreement the developers had to provide disabled access via a footpath down to the old railway line.

"However, the plans for the path show it to be excessive in its design and would involve the loss of several trees.

"These trees are housing wildlife but are also shielding residents from the recycling plant opposite."

Coun Andrew turned out to the site at 8am on Tuesday after receiving frantic telephone calls from the residents.

Three trees had already been destroyed before the residents could step in.

Coun Andrew said: "We asked the contractors to stop and fortunately they agreed. The developers are only fulfilling the obligations of the planning application."

He added: "There has been no discussion, no consultation with residents."

Peter Singleton's house directly overlooks the proposed footpath site. He said: "We wouldn't have bought the house if we had known this was going to happen."

And Richard Webb who lives on Crofters Lea said: "We didn't know anything about this at all. By the time we knew, three trees had gone. Yesterday you couldn't see the recycling plant."

The view from Mr Webb's property is not directly affected by the building of the path but he is concerned about what effect increased access would have on their small community.

He said: "This is not just a property issue. We are not just concerned about the view from our houses or their value. This is about the trees and wildlife, and about what will happen if this area is opened up.

"To destroy those trees is sacrilege. The plans for the path look like something from Alton Towers.

Mr Webb continued: "We already have a problem with skate boarders and mountain bikers through the estate. The road at the bottom is badly lit and is already used by drug users and drug dealers. If access is improved this problem will escalate."

Another resident, Paula Talbot said: "I'm gutted. No-one was consulted and none of us wanted to lose those trees."

Coun Andrew said: "I am going to do everything I can to stop this. We really are at the eleventh hour and I can't believe it has gone this far."

Director of developers Hearthstead Homes Malcolm Hill said: "We are contractually bound to build the footpath for disabled access to Milner's Road. All we are trying to do was fulfil this obligation.

"But with so much uproar we decided the best thing to do was withdraw our guys from the site.

"The drawings were approved by Leeds City Council. If they weren't aware that there are trees on that area then they should be - it's their land.

"Our engineers spent a lot of time in negotiations with Leeds City Council. The path was designed to a criteria set by the Highways department and all the plans were approved.

"The ramps have to be built in the way we designed, in order to meet this criteria - which is obviously the Highways criteria. This is why the design may appear 'over the top' for what is required.

"But this is what we had to do."

Mr Webb added: "If the money was spent in the right way then this could be a beautiful area.

"We are not denying disabled access to the area but there has to be a better and cheaper way of doing it.

"If the work hadn't stopped then we were quite prepared to walk into the fenced area and physically protect the trees."

Coun Andrew said: "If the plans do go ahead for the original design then the council will have a fight on their hands."

A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by local residents regarding the felling of trees to make way for a footpath.

"Works on the footpath have been suspended to allow officers to thoroughly investigate this situation. We are working closely with local residents and ward members to ensure this is resolved satisfactorily for all parties concerned and as quickly as possible."