'Take over river safety' offer stuns Otley Town Council

3:16pm Thursday 17th May 2007

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LEEDS Council chiefs are proposing a radical' solution to Otley's river safety fence dispute - by offering to hand the whole thorny issue over to the town.

Executive member for Leisure, Councillor John Procter, was given a torrid time when he and officers presented an amended version of the fencing scheme at a public meeting last Thursday.

More than 200 people crowded in to the Civic Centre and more were turned away due to building safety regulations to hear the new plans and say what they thought of them.

The event started late with Coun Procter arriving nearly half an hour late, and the mood turned angry once people realised the revised proposals still included fencing off large parts of Wharfemeadows Park.

The following day saw Coun Procter take everyone by surprise by announcing a plan that would involve handing over responsibility for the full stretch of the river through the park and any connected safety issues to the town council.

He said: "We are absolutely committed to ensuring the safety of the many visitors who enjoy Wharfemeadows Park and protecting them has to be our top priority.

"However, we also take public opinion into account. This is certainly an issue which has sparked a lot of debate in Otley and surrounding areas and we are listening to what people say.

"We are not in the business of ignoring impassioned local feeling, but nor can we ignore our responsibilities.

"RoSPA are safety experts and we have been working closely with them to identify the best possible solution in balancing protecting life and protecting local amenity.

"However, we accept the town council may have a different perspective, which is why we are prepared to consider the idea of allowing them to act as stewards to the waterway."

Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) is not convinced of the merits of the idea. He said: "The proposal as I understand it would see only the legal responsibilities for the riverbank being handed down to Otley, thus absolving the city council of its legal responsibilities.

"I strongly feel that the city council would be ducking its responsibility. If it handed responsibility, and finance, for the whole park that would be a different matter in that it would give the town council the opportunity to locally manage this important asset.

"Following the public meeting last Thursday it was clear that most people would support fencing the weir and children's play area.

"This could be progressed while discussions on more appropriate safety measures for the area near the bridge are progressed."

The amended scheme presented at last week's meeting differs little from the original, other than that the steps would now be repaired and remain unfenced.

It was based on an officers' report that concludes: "There is no doubt there is a great weight of public opinion that does not wish to see any fence in place.

"Howeverthe council has no reasonable option but to implement the revised fencing proposal and signage."

Manor Street resident Rachel Feldberg asked for a straw poll at the meeting to gauge people's reaction.

She said: "It was clear from the vote that 80 per cent of people supported additional fencing by the weir and children's play area, but not a single person voted for any other fencing at any other point."

Wharfemeadows Action Group (WAG) member Sylvia Reid said: "Feedback from people who attended indicates that many were very disappointed with how the meeting was conducted.

"Senior officers didn't seem to understand that people were expecting to be consulted about options, not told that the option on display was going to executive board at this week's meeting."

City council leader Councillor Andrew Carter has vowed that no decision will be made on the river plans before June's Executive Board meeting, and following "full and proper consultation."

But that timetable now looks ambitious, since as well as Coun Procter's proposal Otley MP Greg Mulholland has now submitted yet another, alternative scheme based on a meeting with RoSPA and WAG.

Instead of a riverside fence, that scheme would involve putting a fence along the path in front of the houses at the park and making all access via lockable gates. Mr Mulholland is also asking Leeds to consider creating a fence around the play area, rather than fencing off the river at that point.