SPRAYING unsightly concreate bridge supports with cow manure to make them blend in with their surroundings is just one idea being mooted by highways chiefs.

Both councillors and the Herald have received complaints about the way the bridge on the A629, near Bradley, has been finished off following extensive strengthening work earlier this year.

Local residents, drivers and Bradley Parish Council have complained that the dry stone walling has been replaced by an "eyesore" concrete structure.

County councillor Irene Greaves has taken up the cause and commented: "It is a bit stark white."

She added that one suggestion put to her by North Yorkshire County Council was spraying the concrete with cow manure to attract lichen and moss to grow.

This is not the first time this idea has been used to help walls blend in with their surroundings. Back in 1995 the Herald carried the story of church officials at St Michael's in Linton, who had to paint one of their new dry stone walls with manure.

This was a condition of a planning application imposed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Committee on the building of the new wall.

Coun Greaves continued: "People have objected to it (the bridge) being finished off in polished concrete rather than stone. But the Highways Authority says the concrete is safer if there was an impact during an accident.

"I'm not sure that I'm convinced by that and I don't know why North Yorkshire County Council didn't press for stone while it was being built."

The area's Craven councillor Joan Ibbotson is also pressing for the walling to be changed.

"That bridge has had stone walls there for a number of years and other bridges are faced in stone. It looks very stark at the moment and doesn't look nice at all.

"As far as I'm concerned it's just been done as a cost-cutting exercise."

However, Coun Ibbotson felt spraying the wall with manure was not a viable solution because it would wash off easily before moss had had time to grow.

* Highways experts have been out to examine the bridge over the river at Kildwick this week. A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said it was just a routine check.

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