A plan to build a footbridge over the River Wharfe to connect West Yorkshire with North Yorkshire has been withdrawn.
The proposal was submitted by volunteer group Burley Bridge Association. The group said there have been hopes of building a bridge over this section of the Wharfe for 120 years.
Currently, there is a public right of way connecting the two banks of the river between Burley-in-Wharfedale and Askwith on the edge of the Harrogate district and walkers have to navigate a series of stepping stones.
The association lodged proposals for a footbridge to both North Yorkshire Council and Bradford Metropolitan Council in November 2023.
At the time, the group said the bridge would provide a safe route for walkers over the river which would then connect to its 42-mile Yorkshire Heritage Way trail that links Bradford with Ripon.
It said:
“A reliable, safe, and weather-proof crossing will be of benefit to the entire local community who regularly use the stepping-stones to access walking and running routes, and to those who travel into the area to enjoy all that the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the adjacent Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have to offer.”
However, the plans have now been withdrawn.
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In comments submitted to North Yorkshire Council, Dan McAndrew, principal ecologist at the authority, raised concern that the river is a designated UK priority habitat, which includes “in channel gravel bank features”.
While Mr McAndrew acknowledged that the bridge would offer a “sustainable and accessible” route for walkers, he added that the Environment Agency recommends that “in-channel impacts should be avoided through the provision of a single span bridge”.
He said:
New footbridge over River Wharfe proposed“The recently submitted ‘design rationale’ does not address this matter, although I acknowledge that the application proposes some mitigation measures such as planting of riparian alders, bat boxes and provision for nesting birds and control of Himalayan balsam.
“Whilst these are welcome measures, they do not address the fundamental issue of damage to a priority habitat, which, as the Environment Agency suggests, ought to be avoided through the design of a single span bridge.”
Plans have been submitted to build a new footbridge over the River Wharfe to connect West Yorkshire with North Yorkshire.
Currently, there is a public right of way connecting the two banks of the river between Burley-in-Wharfedale and Askwith on the edge of the Harrogate district and walkers have to navigate a series of stepping stones.
But due to rising river levels and heavy rainfall the stones frequently become submerged, making the crossing impassable.
The plans have been submitted by volunteer group Burley Bridge Association, which says there have been hopes of building a bridge over this section of the Wharfe for 120 years.
A public meeting in 1896 voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bridge near Burley Weir to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee — but it is still yet to materialise.
The nearest road bridges are at Ben Rhydding and Otley although these are two and three miles away from the proposed new bridge.
Last year, Burley Bridge Association devised a new 42-mile walking trail trail called the Yorkshire Heritage Way to link Bradford with Ripon.
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It passes through the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Saltaire and Fountains Abbey and also crosses the Wharfe using the stepping stones. The group hopes the new bridge will guarantee an all-year round crossing for people following the trail.
The Nidderdale AONB is also a supporter of the bridge as it would like to encourage more foot traffic into the area.
Burley Bridge Association estimates the bridge will cost £400,000 and it will be paid for through donations and voluntary sources.
The group said:
“A reliable, safe, and weather-proof crossing will be of benefit to the entire local community who regularly use the stepping-stones to access walking and running routes, and to those who travel into the area to enjoy all that the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the adjacent Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have to offer.”
Plans have been submitted to both North Yorkshire Council and Bradford Metropolitan Council and will be decided at a later date.