Number 10 to intervene in Tadcaster bridge row - brewery may now allow footbridge - but on its terms

The town's MP Nigel Adams met David Cameron today, and afterwards said 10 Downing Street had agreed to contact Samuel Smith's brewery - which has so far not given permission for its land to be used to site the bridge.

Mr Adams said: "I think we are in a slightly more encouraging place than we were yesterday.

"I understand that number 10 is going to contact the brewery to see if they can help in any way. I am encouraged that at the highest level of government Tadcaster is a national priority."

He added: "It is incredibly frustrating that as every day goes by we are still waiting for the button to be pushed, but I am confident that we will have a clearer picture sooner rather than later."

The brewery has today said it will agree to a temporary footbridge over the River Wharfe at Tadcaster after all - but only if it is happy with the design of the restored road bridge.

Samuel Smith's comments came as almost 1,000 people have signed a petition calling on it to allow its land to be used for the footbridge.

The brewery said in an email to the Selby and Ainsty MP - who yesterday branded its stance 'outrageous' - that the proposed site for the footbridge was in the middle of the town's conservation area and 'affects the view of a number of fine listed buildings and structures.'

It said: "The danger is if the footbridge (which won’t be a thing of beauty) is built in isolation in such a sensitive position and the listed road bridge is handed back to public use in a year or so without adequate pavement and carriageway widths, the public pressure to retain the footbridge after the restoration will be considerable."

The brewery said the road bridge had narrow pavements which made it inadequate for pushchairs and the disabled and was dangerous with pedestrians needing to step off the pavement to pass each other.

"In our opinion the proposed temporary footbridge is bad value and just an instant slight short term palliative which solves few problems," it said.

"If the government is determined to install the temporary bridge we would only agree to it being sited on our land if the design and funding of the restoration and improvement of the listed bridge was agreed with us and the town first."

But Nigel Adams rubbished the brewery's suggestions that the temporary bridge could end up becoming permanent, saying "I think the clue is in the word temporary."

Samuel Smith's has also said it would shortly be putting in a surfaced and fenced temporary permissive footpath from Rosemary Row to the viaduct, which would be above the flood plain and enable the east side of the viaduct to be accessed without climbing steps.

The online petition, which is organised by James Darnton of Tadcaster on Change.org and had been signed by 986 people by 3.30pm today, says: "A temporary pedestrian foot bridge is needed to reconnect the two sides of Tadcaster which has been devastated by the collapse of the road bridge.

"Samuel Smith's Brewery has been asked permission for this to be placed on land owned by them. This has been refused. This petition has been made to show the support for the road bridge and ask Samuel Smith's Brewery to reverse this decision."

The petition comes after the brewery hit back yesterday following criticism of its decision to block the footbridge plans.

The brewery said then it understood the proposed bridge would cost some £500,000 of tax-payers’ money, adding: "It seems to us a most wasteful proposed public expenditure, a typical short-term PR based sound-bite from central and local government."

It also claimed the blame for the collapse of the 300-year-old stone road bridge in Tadcaster in the wake of flooding on Boxing Day lay squarely with North Yorkshire County Council, which it claimed had failed to carry out its proper duties of maintenance.

"Only three of the seven arches were in use and trees had been lodged for some weeks against the three used arches before the collapse," it said in an email to David Bowe, Corporate Director for Business and Environmental Services at the council.

Its comments came after the Goverment's Yorkshire flood envoy Robert Goodwill criticised the brewery for potentially delaying the construction of the temporary footbridge.

The MP said he was irritated and disappointed because Humphrey Smith, of Samuel Smiths Brewery, was apparently unwilling to allow its land on one of the banks to be used for the bridge.

"I think people in the town are angry," he said, adding that he expected residents to give their views at a public meeting in the towns Riley Smith Hall this evening.

He said Mr Smith had apparently said he did not believe the bridge would represent value for money but, if his decision delayed construction of the bridge, there would be costs in continuing to have to operate a shuttle bus and provide transport to take children to school, and businesses could lose more trade.

"I hope Mr Smith will think again and realise that, from time to time, one has to think for the community," he said.

Mr Goodwill said that after the Government had made £300,000 available to pay for the footbridge, as well as £3 million to rebuild the road bridge, it should have been possible to have the footbridge in place by the end of February but this could now be delayed.

Town mayor Don McKay said Mr Smith had told him yesterday he would not allow the brewery's land to be used for the bridge because he did not think it would be a good use of taxpayers' money.

Cllr McKay said that while this decision blocked construction pf the bridge at its ideal location, about 100 metres upstream of the partially collapsed road bridge, there were two other potential locations where it might be possible to build it.

He said the banks at these points were in public ownership or were owned by a landowner who was willing to let their land be used.

Cllr McKay said great steps had now been taken to improve access to an old viaduct which provided a way across the river Wharfe for pedestrians. albeit with a long diversion away from the town centre.

He said lighting was being provided so the viaduct could be used after dark as well.

Another good development was the re-opening today of the town's Sainsbury supermarket, he added.

The county council said it maintained all of its bridges, including Tadcaster, in line with national standards.

“Every two years we carry out a general visual inspection of the bridge and every six years we carry out a principal inspection which involves a detailed structural survey,” it said. “The last principal inspection was carried out in April 2015.

“In addition, every six years, the county council carries out a scour inspection which involves an underwater survey of the bridge’s foundations.

"The last scour inspection of Tadcaster Bridge was carried out in 2013 and at that time there was no scour damage.”

This evening a busy public meeting has seen hundreds pack into Tadcaster's Riley Smith Hall to hear about the bridge repairs, and the fight to bring in a temporary footbridge.

Residents heard the county council's David Bowe explain why the bridge had failed, and what the authority was doing to get the town reconnected. 

Special buses had brought people across from the east side of the town for, which saw angry calls for action against the brewery. 

Overwhelming support was given to the temporary footbridge, and a show of hands displayed that most people believed it was value for money.

The town's MP Nigel Adams came under fire for not attending, but Selby District Councillor Richard Sweeting defended him saying Mr Adams was in the capital lobbying Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene with Mr Smith. 

Mr Bowe also told the meeting that they were looking at alternative sites for the footbridge within 50m of the bridge, where landowners were being supportive. 

He spoke of proposals for permanent improvements like a separate footbridge once the old bridge is repaired. 

He pledged that no body would be able to object and slow down the repair of the old bridge.

He added: "We have an opportunity because someone videoed the bridge collapse on YouTube. It's up to us to push for the resources we need. We are twisting the knife as best we can for Tadcaster."

Different legal options were being considered, he said, but a compulsory purchase order could take longer to process than the old bridge repairs.

Here's a link to the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/samuel-smiths-brewery-allow-a-temporary-pedestrian-bridge-in-tadcaster-to-be-placed-on-land-owned-by-sam-smith-s-brewery