A COMMUNITY garden celebrating the millennium has been axed in the face of fierce criticism from Otley residents.

Plans to create the landmark behind Newall Church Hall have been dropped following a public meeting where people living nearby opposed the scheme.

Members of Otley's Millennium Association were left in little doubt over the strength of the objections amid heated scenes at Prince Henry's Grammar School last Wednesday evening.

Now chairman Michael Silverwood says the negative reaction means the association has little choice but give up on the £10,000 bid.

"It is a decision we take with great reluctance as we did have the chance to secure funding for Otley, but we had to take it.

"There was obviously a lack of positive support to help create and maintain the garden as shown by the meeting's low attendance, as well as the strong negative reaction from some of the residents who adjoin the site," said Mr Silverwood.

Residents in The Crescent - which overlooks the church hall grounds - attacked proposed plans on display at Wednesday's meeting.

They said any garden would become a haven for drinking and drug abuse - particularly with dense planting of trees and shrubs indicated at one end of the designs.

Frank Emery, of The Crescent, said: "Why here? Why can't it be somewhere else? We like it the way it is."

Others said the site already attracted groups of youngsters and feared the problem would become worse, particularly as the land was hidden from the main road.

Celsus Warde, of Otley Action for Older People, said: "I think it is a most unsuitable site. I often walk up past and see gangs of young people behind the wall and they are threatening by being in a gang, certainly for women."

Association members were keen to point out the designs - with landscaping, paths and raised flower beds - were merely proposals and appealed for ideas from the residents themselves. "Nothing is meant to be fact, it is meant to be talked about," said Mr Silverwood.

But residents were convinced any attempt at creating a lasting legacy of the year 2000 would only become a target for vandals.

And site trustee Andrew Gilliland was applauded when he pledged that nothing would be done without the residents' backing. "If a garden goes there without support, the residents will not care for it. If you don't agree with the idea there is no point in doing it," he said.

Now hopes of finding a different site before the September deadline are fading. "In theory if someone came up with a good site, we would still have to hold another meeting," said Mr Silverwood. "We would also need very strong support from a significant number of people and the clock is ticking away."

l What do you think about a Millennium Garden for Otley? Do you know of any other suitable sites in the town? Let us know by writing to the Editor, Wharfedale Observer, 9 Orchard Gate, Otley LS21 3NX.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.