AN Otley man says a well-used footbridge in the town is in danger of disappearing into the mud.

And after a fruitless five-year battle to get Leeds City Council to shore up the collapsing structure at Otley's Kellbeck, he has lambasted the council for its 'promise lots - do little' attitude.

To rub further salt in exasperated John Morgan's wounds, he says another five-year fight to get a light put up to illuminate some dangerous steps in the area finally bore fruit when the council swung into action - and put up a light in completely the wrong place.

Mr Morgan, chairman of Friends of Kellbeck, says the footbridge, which is used by hundreds of people making their way into town from the Weston Estate, is in an appalling state of disrepair.

He said: " The entire structure is steadily sinking into the beck. You can see for yourself the structure has sunk three or four feet from its original position. In this last week you can see it has visibly dropped further. I have been on and on about it to the council for years and they say something will be done but of course it never is."

Regarding the misplaced lamp, he said: "The steps are pitch black at night and quite dangerous and for years we have been asking for a light to be put up to illuminate them. Finally the council arrived and put up a light in completely the wrong place, right between two existing ones, but the steps are still pitch black. It is ludicrous."

Local councillors have raised the matter with the council and a spokesman at Leeds confirmed the pipe, on which the footpath runs, has formed a depression and said the council would look at repairing it early in the next financial year. He said at the same time it would also look into the area's lighting.

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