Bridge repairs tree felling plan paused by council

Plans to fell a 180-year-old oak tree to make way for a temporary footbridge in Otley have been paused until the new year.

The oak and a tulip tree were due to be removed to allow Leeds City Council to install a crossing while it carried out works on the nearby stone bridge's walkway.

Campaign group Otley 2030 asked the council to reconsider and said there were other options which would not affect local wildlife.

In an update on Thursday, the local authority said no further action will be taken in regard to the trees before 6 January "at the earliest".

The walkway was built in the 1950s as an add-on to Otley Bridge over the River Wharfe, which dates back to the 13th Century.

Leeds City Council confirmed its "preferred approach" was still to build a temporary crossing, rather than installing three-way temporary traffic lights on the bridge.

"We recognise the strength of feeling from certain local community groups against the felling of the trees," councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy council leader, said.

"Consequently, we have taken the decision to pause the felling."

He continued: "However, public safety has to be our main priority, and the essential replacement work to the footbridge will not be delayed regardless of the outcome for the trees."

The local authority said work to install the temporary bridge will start in March for about 12 weeks, with the new permanent footbridge expected to open in autumn.

Felled trees would be replaced by a minimum of 13 semi-mature trees across Otley, including in Tittybottle Park, it added.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.