Long struggle for river bridge may be drawing to a close

The long-held dream of creating a pedestrian bridge over the river at Burley-in-Wharfedale is back on the table with new proposals being drawn-up.

Efforts to provide a safe means of crossing the River Wharfe have been ongoing for over a century but now a new proposal has been thought up which could finally lead to a crossing being created.

Burley-in-Wharfedale is the only major settlement on the Wharfe without a bridge over the river. The nearest crossings are at Otley and Ben Rhydding

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At present walkers have to use stepping stones - but the stones are nearly always submerged so effectively there is no route across for much of the year.

Now details of the latest proposal for a bridge to allow people to cross the river in safety have been published.

This is the third bridge put forward by the Burley Bridge Association (BBA) since its campaign started in 1996, following various local attempts going back to the beginning of the twentieth century.

In 1999 planning permission was secured for a bridge across the weir, which did not go ahead because agreement could not be reached with landowners. In 2007 a proposed bridleway bridge was seen as too large for the sensitive site.

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The BBA was asked to consider plans for a simpler and cheaper structure and the latest proposal has been drawn-up by bridge engineering company Ramboll UK.

The latest planned bridge at Burley is a suspension-type bridge, which will cost an estimated £260,000.

Ramboll designed the Millennium Bridge across the River Ouse in York and recently completed the new bridge at the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield over the Calder.

Keith Wadd, Chairman of the West Riding Area of the Ramblers Association, said last night: “The proposed bridge is for people on foot only and is an attractive, cleverly-designed minimal structure.

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“I can’t see how anyone can seriously object to it,” Mr Wadd added.

The new plans will soon be on public exhibition for local people to comment on them.

The BBA hopes that families and younger people in the area will put their support behind the plans for a safe river crossing.

The campaign group has worked with the Ramblers’ Association in the campaign for a proper river crossing at Burley.

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It is believed that the project will cost around £260,000 and the bridge association is continuing to raise funds to take the campaign further, progressing to a formal planning application which will need to be considered by authorities in Bradford and North Yorkshire before it is given the go-ahead.

Gill Morgan, chair of the BBA hopes the tough economic climate will not pose too many problems.

She said: “This is a one-off project which will benefit many people.

“Raising funds for it will not be competing directly with any other local initiative.”

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Anyone who wants to help to progress the campaign can contact the BBA through its website by visiting www.burleybridge.com

The campaign for a bridge has been a long standing local issue. There have been calls for a bridge since 1898, which in recent times has been spearheaded by the BBA.

If it is built, walkers from Bradford and Leeds will be able to leave their cars at home and use the frequent rail or bus services to Burley-in Wharfedale and cross the bridge into the countryside north of the river.

In 1998 a survey earlier carried out in Burley by the Burley Footbridge Committee on behalf of Burley Community Council found support of the respondents was over four to one in favour of a bridge.

It is hoped the project to create a bridge will encourage more people and ramblers to get outdoors and explore their surroundings.

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