312 replies to this topic

[Sebastian-Smythe]

One should be wary when the Rights of Way crew say they are 'looking into a matter'.
It matters nought what you're standing in the community is, one can be waiting for years
for a decent reply. Past experience has taught never to take anything they say as gospel
until it's in black and white in one's hand.

[appropriatebridge]

Sebastian-Smythe said:

One should be wary when the Rights of Way crew say they are 'looking into a matter'.
It matters nought what you're standing in the community is, one can be waiting for years
for a decent reply. Past experience has taught never to take anything they say as gospel
until it's in black and white in one's hand.

To judge from the papers Matt has obtained, last time The Stones were maintained, the issue started in about 1974/1975 and the work was done in July 1977. However, this time, given the historical documents we now have, it should not take so long. In the 1970s, the Council ultimately just "got on with it" in the face of oposition from Leeds Anglers and I see no reason why they should not be equally positive now. Work will be dependant on a survey which itself will not be possible until early summer I expect.

If the central 6 or 7 stones have sunk, as opposed to been eroded, then possibly the sill itself needs some urgent maintenance to protect the stilling pool and the weir.

[Matt]

appropriatebridge said:

Work will be dependant on a survey which itself will not be possible until early summer I expect.

Survey already requested and agreed to, and I am told it should be possible earier than that - but it's weather dependent (and more particularly water level and scheduling dependent).

Matt

[Sebastian-Smythe]

appropriatebridge said:

Sebastian-Smythe said:

One should be wary when the Rights of Way crew say they are 'looking into a matter'.
It matters nought what you're standing in the community is, one can be waiting for years
for a decent reply. Past experience has taught never to take anything they say as gospel
until it's in black and white in one's hand.

To judge from the papers Matt has obtained, last time The Stones were maintained, the issue started in about 1974/1975 and the work was done in July 1977. However, this time, given the historical documents we now have, it should not take so long. In the 1970s, the Council ultimately just "got on with it" in the face of oposition from Leeds Anglers and I see no reason why they should not be equally positive now. Work will be dependant on a survey which itself will not be possible until early summer I expect.

If the central 6 or 7 stones have sunk, as opposed to been eroded, then possibly the sill itself needs some urgent maintenance to protect the stilling pool and the weir.

If work is to be done I, for one, hope those doing so don't forget why those stones were put there in the first place?
Otherwise there could be more damage done than needs be.

[appropriatebridge]

SOS and the Parish Council have today received photos of The Stones in 1947 and 1980. The 1947 photo is perhaps of interest only as we know replacement work was done in the 1970s but the comparison between the 1980 and 2009 photos seems to show with little doubt that The Stones have deteriorated. I have analysed the photos and offered some comments. See the SOS website via "Latest News" for details.

Keep any photos coming in.

[nabbers]

.

[appropriatebridge]

nabbers said:

The 1980 picture shows the concrete capping I think I mentioned, didn't last long before the water peeled it off the top of the stones.

Gob smacked by the 1949 picture, are those tall blocks stepping stones or a temporary dam to enable the concrete apron to be built? Or were these the *improved* stepping stones?

These were the improvements to The Stones which Ilkley Urban District Council tried to make in 1949 but were prevented by an injunction (we believe). See SOS website "The Stones".

Taking your point about the concrete cappings (if your information is correct - difficult to tell), this is the state The Stones were in 1980. How they got to that state doesn't really matter. They have now deteriorated from that state and should be maintained at least back to that height.

[Matt]

Hello all,

I have recieved paper copies of the files held by the council on this matter. Rather than keep these in my filing cabinet, I have put them in the safe hands of the parish clerk, who will be happy to make them available to anyone who wishes to take a look. if you do wish to take a look please contact the parish council - details on the village web site.

Regards,

Matt

[appropriatebridge]

Th latest position on The Stones was discussed by the Parish Council at their meeting on 14 January 2010. See the latest minutes via the Burley Village website or via the "Latest News" page of the SOS website.

[appropriatebridge]

Today's Ilkley Gazette contains an article about The Stones. See via the "Latest News" page of the SOS website or preferably, buy the paper!

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Have a look at http://feradura.blogspot.com for more pics othe dam stone area.

[nabbers]

.

[appropriatebridge]

nabbers said:

http://2.bp.blogspot...-h/Burle020.jpg Despite being an old picture, this shows the northern stones as being higher than those on the south.

I wish I knew more about managing currents, the picture also shows the stones aren't parallel to the wier, but at an angle and the river bends at this point. Are there any other weirs with stones like these to control the currents? Do we know anything about the science behind this? Cars have a differential to allow wheels to travel at different speeds on corners, are the stones doing a similar job?

You will think I am taking the Michael but if you really want a headache on this see http://www.ciria.org/service/Home/AM/Co ... ntID=14783

I quickly gave up!

It is obviously a very complex business and to be honest, in relation to restoring the Right Of Way, I do not think it matters very much.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

nabbers said:

http://2.bp.blogspot...-h/Burle020.jpg Despite being an old picture, this shows the northern stones as being higher than those on the south.

I wish I knew more about managing currents, the picture also shows the stones aren't parallel to the wier, but at an angle and the river bends at this point. Are there any other weirs with stones like these to control the currents? Do we know anything about the science behind this? Cars have a differential to allow wheels to travel at different speeds on corners, are the stones doing a similar job?

According to a hydrologist I spoke to some years ago, the reason for the stones not being parallel is to redirect undercurrents, usually away from sensitive river banks. By that he suggested banks made of alluvial deposits as in glacial beds, of which the ones at Burley are a fine example. You will see from the photographs on http://feradura.blogspot.com how the area below the current control barrier has, over the years, become silted up. Thus providing a realtivly stable substrata for trees and shrubs to take root.

I believe there is/was a similar set of stones in the Ingleton area.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Just uploaded a cracking pic of the dam in flood on the feradura blog mentioned in my previous post..
Just think how much electricity could be made from all that water if the old mill wheels could be brought into service as a generationg plant.

[Wharfedale]

We choose to go to the other side of the river.

We choose to go to the other side of the river in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

It is for these reasons that I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in the river from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the office of the Presidency.

In the last 24 hours we have seen facilities now being created for the greatest and most complex exploration in man's history. We have felt cold, wet feet by the testing of a stepping stone, many times more useless than a bridge. We have seen the site where the Stones reside, each one more submerged than the next, clustered together to make something which is even more hopeless for walkers than the sum of its parts, to be ignored by virtually the entire community, because ultimately, what are we actually going to do when we get to the fields at the other side of the river anyway?

[appropriatebridge]

Wharfedale said:

..... what are we actually going to do when we get to the fields at the other side of the river anyway?

Speaking as a hiker and on behalf of some others I know, once over the river, we would be making use of the footpath routes to Askwith Moor, Denton Moor, the Timble area and beyond. A look at the Ordnance Survey map will reveal many footpath options. Also, do not forget this is a two-way street (or footpath!) in that a better crossing will enable any Askwith residents who walk to access Burley and the footpaths to the south on to the moors etc.

[Wharfedale]

appropriatebridge said:

Wharfedale said:

..... what are we actually going to do when we get to the fields at the other side of the river anyway?

Speaking as a hiker and on behalf of some others I know, once over the river, we would be making use of the footpath routes to Askwith Moor, Denton Moor, the Timble area and beyond. A look at the Ordnance Survey map will reveal many footpath options. Also, do not forget this is a two-way street (or footpath!) in that a better crossing will enable any Askwith residents who walk to access Burley and the footpaths to the south on to the moors etc.

I know, I know – I just couldn’t resist!!! Although you raise a worrying point about the people of Askwith coming over here; taking our jobs, and women – do we really want that?

I say build a wall, not a bridge!!!

[appropriatebridge]

Wharfedale said:

appropriatebridge said:

Wharfedale said:

..... what are we actually going to do when we get to the fields at the other side of the river anyway?

Speaking as a hiker and on behalf of some others I know, once over the river, we would be making use of the footpath routes to Askwith Moor, Denton Moor, the Timble area and beyond. A look at the Ordnance Survey map will reveal many footpath options. Also, do not forget this is a two-way street (or footpath!) in that a better crossing will enable any Askwith residents who walk to access Burley and the footpaths to the south on to the moors etc.

I know, I know – I just couldn’t resist!!! Although you raise a worrying point about the people of Askwith coming over here; taking our jobs, and women – do we really want that?

I say build a wall, not a bridge!!!

On the other hand, the Askwith women might come for the Burley men! I volunteer!! (As long as it is the right ones!)

[Wharfedale]

LMAO!!!!!!!