PARTNERSHIP working between walking groups, landowners and councils has resulted in several key projects to improve Wharfedale footpaths being completed in a single day.

Burley-in-Wharfedale's Walkers Are Welcome group instigated the project, which was co-ordinated jointly with Lower Wharfedale Ramblers.

Bradford Council provided materials, with support from Burley Parish Council.

The day was the culmination of almost a year of planning between all the organisations concerned, says Walkers Are Welcome chairman, David Asher.

He added: "We had identified during our first year, and following local consultation, a number of improvements to footpaths in and around the village that would increase accessibility to the surrounding countryside.

"We were then delighted to receive a grant from Burley Parish Council to fund the installation of a kissing gate, together with an offer of materials from Bradford Council to resurface a path and build a railway sleeper bridge.

"We subsequently made contact with the footpaths officer for Lower Wharfedale Ramblers, who offered to jointly co-ordinate a working party using their volunteers in order to complete the work."

Nine volunteers from the two walking organisations and three members of staff from Bradford Council’s countryside services subsequently worked together to complete the four projects, helped by having fine weather on the day.

"Resurfacing the footpath underneath the railway cattle arch, near Heather Rise, was probably the highest priority for the group, and took the most effort on the day," added Mr Asher.

"The very poor condition of the surface, together with it being quite a long, dark tunnel, meant many people were deterred from using it, despite it being one of the best access points to Hag Farm Road and the fields and moors beyond. For the first time in many years, we now have a broad, level path suitable for people with mobility problems, and I know it will get heavily used."

The working party also constructed a bridge and improved drainage on the footpath linking Hag Farm Road with the Hermit pub in Burley Woodhead, and installed a kissing gate to replace a stile on a footpath between Burley with Menston, near to Holme Grove.

Walkers Are Welcome is urging dog walkers using the footpath to keep their pets under control at all times around livestock, and to pick up dog waste.

The call comes after problems with dogs harassing cattle and horse riders in the fields between the two villages in the past, and dog waste being picked up.

Lower Wharfedale Ramblers footpath officer, Richard Smith, said: "This project has been an excellent example of the benefits of councils working together with voluntary organisations, such as ours, and Walkers Are Welcome groups. It means that use of limited resources can be maximised, and voluntary effort can complement that provided by the statutory bodies. We look forward to more collaborative schemes in the Lower Wharfedale area, including Burley, in the future."

Burley Walkers Are Welcome will hold its second annual meeting at 7.30pm on May 17 at the Red Lion in Main Street, Burley.

A route guide, including maps, will be on sale at outlets in Burley and the other partner towns by the early summer.