Council promises not to fence off Yeadon Tarn (From Wharfedale Observer)

Council promises not to fence off Yeadon Tarn

7:16am Thursday 5th April 2007

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A PUBLIC assurance has been given that Yeadon Tarn will not be fenced off - whatever happens at Otley's Wharfemeadows Park.

Otley residents are up in arms about Leeds City Council's plans to install a £165,000 safety fence by the riverside, following recommendations made by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). A petition against the scheme has collected around 3,000 signatures in the space of a few weeks.

The RoSPA recommendations were made in response to the drowning of two teenagers in Roundhay Park's lake, and fears have been growing that they could lead to fences being put up at attractions across Leeds - including Yeadon Tarn.

But the city council's Principal Parks Manager, Sean Flesher, categorically ruled out a safety fence' for Yeadon at a meeting of the North West (Outer) Area Committee on Monday.

Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) put the question directly to him. He said: "There have been comments made that you will be fencing off Yeadon Tarn as well?"

Mr Flesher said: "I can reassure you we won't be, there's not a real danger there. We haven't risk assessed the tarn yet but we might just gate off the spillway and put up some warning signs saying there's water and telling people to keep an eye on their children."

Meanwhile the Wharfemeadows Action Group (WAG), which is co-ordinating the campaign against the Otley fence, says support is snowballing.

The group gathered 300 new names for its petition at the last Farmers Market.

Tony Hartigan of WAG said: "At one time people were actually queuing up to sign it. People expressed very strong opposition to the fencing proposals and said they were unwilling to be dictated to by a remote city council which had failed to consult them.

"They were fed up with so-called safety experts who do not apply commonsense to risk assessment. Needless to say, they also considered the fences would be a waste of council tax payers' money."

WAG has submitted a legal challenge to RoSPA's recommendations in a bid to sabotage the fencing scheme, and the city council has agreed not to act until it has received independent legal advice and consulted with the public.

The pressure group points out that Wharfemeadows Park has had an exemplary' safety record since opening 1924, and claims a river fence would simply deter visitors to the town.

Visitors to Wharfemeadows Park who agree will have a chance to add their names to the petition against the fence on Easter Sunday.

WAG representatives, joined by what they hope will be a bus full of supporters, will hand over the petition to the Lord Mayor of Leeds at a full city council meeting on Wednesday, April 18.

More details on WAG's campaign are available at www.wharfemeadowsactiongroup.org.

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