Ilkley’s new Town Mayor is supporting a radical new scheme to stop young people jumping off the swingbridge into the River Wharfe - by reclaiming the riverside for families.

Cllr Karl Milner, who last month became the town’s first Labour mayor, said that in the wake of a number of failed attempts to stop the dangerous behaviour during the summer months, a new approach was being trialled.

He says that encouraging more families to use the riverside area near the bridge will put youths off from leaping from the bridge.

Plans are being developed by Bradford Council to ensure that every day in August there will be events designed to bring families to the spot, and hopefully make the youths who have claimed the bridge for their activities to think twice.

In a blog post published this week, Cllr Milner said: “The weather is gorgeous right now and as the cost of living crisis continues, it's increasingly difficult for many youngsters to head off further afield to let off a bit of steam.

“Instead of staying close to home, they're heading down to the river to have fun with their mates and demonstrate their fearless prowess to a possible love interest. And, ever since this bridge was built young scallywags have been jumping off it. Now, that might not have changed but the depth of the river does all the time.

“It’s really not the most sensible thing to do but when did sense ever have anything to do with it. I have heard reports that a young lady suffered a compound fracture of her ankle following a dare last week. Whatever has been tried nothing has deterred her or many others. Nobody can be in any doubt that it’s dangerous.”

Cllr Milner listed the efforts that have been made to prevent the dangerous bridge-jumping - and why they didn’t work.

He wrote: “Remember the hideous iron barriers welded to the sides of this beautiful bridge - well they just doubled the dare (and the drop).

“The huge signs demanding sober, sensible behaviour - chucked in the river or taken home to adorn the shed.

“An ever increasing police presence, who surely have more important matters to attend to than act as anti-driving guards is exorbitantly expensive and not sustainable and we aren’t Russia. 98% of the time no crimes are being committed down here - just high spirits and doing that most British of things drinking in the sunshine.”

Cllr Milner said that changing behaviour is a “tricky business”, hence the new approach. He said: “There are an increasing number of families coming to East Holme field to enjoy a day in the sunshine.

“Evidence suggests that encouraging families to reclaim a location actually does temper more extreme behaviour. Like diving off a bridge for example. So this year there is a trial going on.

“I support plans to bring family orientated events and activities going on in this part of the park and yes Bradford are also talking about opening an off-road car park down there to stop the endless line of vehicles parked down both sides of the back road and place a degree of control on numbers - which is good.”

He said that the town’s economy was greatly boosted by tourism, and that attracting the right sort of visitors to the river would help.

Cllr Milner said: “Ilkley’s bustling high street, runs on tight margins and adorned as it is with great shops, cafes and restaurants that are open throughout the year is in no small part because we welcome an increasing number of visitors . Tourism has created a thriving atmosphere and an economic boon for our residents to enjoy.

“Please do come to enjoy the waters, at the lido, the spa and in the river. And we want everyone to have a brilliant day building fabulous memories so they come back again and again in future.

“If this pilot works (in conjunction with sensible enforcement) and we encourage more families to East Holme field then we will take the edge off excessive behaviour around the Cromwheel - you can but try.”