Appendix 1 –

The significance of the decision now and in the future

The decision to fence off the river in Wharfemeadows Park has significance at both local and national levels for the following reasons:

Local

1/ Wharfemeadows Park is the major tourist attraction for Otley. However, there are two more riverside public parks, Manor Garth and Tittybottle which attract visitors and residents alike.

Within the next 5-10 years two large brown-field sites, Garnetts and Ashfield are to be fully developed. Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Forward identified the need to increase access to Otley’s riverbanks because the river is seen as a vital resource for the town’s developing leisure business sector as well as the town’s business sector as a whole. For more information regarding this please see ‘A vision for Otley’s Riverside’ produced by Otley Town Partnership in April 2005.

A final point for consideration is that Otley Town Council is planning to achieve Quality Status within the next five years which would mean that the town council would more than likely become responsible for managing these public parks.

2/ Leeds City Council has over 60 other water sites which, we are given to understand, will also be assessed for risks. LCC’s capital programme is severely constrained for the next 5 years and some programme starts have already been postponed. Health and Safety expenditure is quite rightly protected. However the water safety project could result in additional programme cuts if the costs for this project are allowed to spiral out of control.

National

3/ In the beginning of his Keynote Address to the Commercial Bar Association lecture in November 2005 stated that; ‘We all want to tackle the perceptions that can lead to a disproportionate fear of litigation and risk-averse behaviour.’ In 2006 the Government established the RSA Risk Commission which will run initially for three years. Its aim is ‘To enable society to respond to risk in a more constructive manner thereby liberating public policy from the burden of unrealistic public opinion.’ This national context means that the decision to fence off a river in an amenity that has an excellent safety record appears especially misguided.

4/ In admitting that fear of possible litigation is the driving force behind the plan to fence off the river, Leeds City Council is promoting a national culture of blame, litigation and compensation rather than making a stand for common sense.