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THE WATCHDOG investi-gating the decision to install fencing along Otley's riverside will now publish its final findings in the New Year.

Leeds City Council's (LCC) Scrutiny Board (Culture and Leisure) has been examining the process that led to parts of Wharfemeadows Park being fenced off and chairman Coun Ted Hanleyhad expected a draft report to be ready by December.

But on Monday he Hanley said the board needed more time given new developments - which included receiving a letter from Otley MP Greg Mulholland about the legal advice LCC obtained.

Coun Hanley said: "Some of the issues he's raised are to do with the legal decisions. This board pressed to get sight of and analyse the advice and always pushed hard for it to be published and put in the public domain.

"There was a request from Otley Town Council for a meeting. I'm delighted to say this has now taken place.

"There was a forthright discussion about where we were and where we are now.

"The conclusions, which we'll certainly take into account, were that there's virtually no opposition to fencing off the dangerous parts near the weir and playground.

"I don't propose to go into the draft report at this moment until members have had the chance to discuss it further.

"We'll meet in the week before Christmas and should publish a final report for the meeting on January 14."

Last week Mr Mulholland and Wharfemeadows Action Group (WAG) said legal advice provided to LCC over river safety in Otley backed their opposition to the fencing.

But LCC leader Councillor Andrew Carter insisted that QC Simon Jackson's advice supported the city council's contention that it was legally obliged to install fencing, even though there is no mention of a fence in the document.

A full copy of Mr Jackson's legal advice can be viewed on WAG's website, www.wharfemeadowsactiongroup.org, under Stop Press'.

WAG member Sylvia Reid said: "It is clear LCC has a responsibility of duty of care for visitors to the park and that the council's decision has to balance a range of factors.

"Yet having read the advice WAG still cannot understand why the city council has decided to throw commonsense out of the window."

2:41pm Thursday 13th December 2007

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