Campaigners battling for a footbridge over the river at Burley-in-Wharfedale have launched a new association to turn the scheme into reality.

Members of the Burley Bridge Committee are renaming themselves the Burley Bridge Association and appealing for people to join their bid to build a bridge over the Wharfe.

The move comes after the last obstacle to the construction of a bridge was crossed earlier this year, when Harrogate Council abandoned its initial opposition to the scheme and granted conditional planning permission.

Bradford Council had already granted permission for work to start on its side of the river.

Now the group have called on other villagers to help them raise the £250,000 needed to start the work.

Committee chairman Colin Newton said: "We call upon the people of Burley and the whole of West Yorkshire to take out membership of the association and give the footbridge their full backing.

"We can now seriously start looking for funding and approach organisations like the Sports Council and the Lottery.

"The committee has done its job, so becoming an association is the next step - it will make it easier for people to come along and help us.

"Having a bridge will mean a lot to the village because it will give it access to the country on the other side.

"It will improve the quality of life for people who live in and visit the village.

"Burley is the only village on the river that doesn't have a bridge."

Mr Newton said the association, which finalised its constitution on Monday, is now planning a number of fundraising events and an exhibition in the village to display the latest architect plans for the bridge.

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