A 26-year-old disabled man is calling on Bradford Council to rethink its decision to fence off an area of wetlands which has stopped him gaining access to the beauty spot in his wheelchair.

Joe Kemp, of Thornton Road, Thornton, has long been using Pitty Beck Wetlands at Allerton to exercise his three dogs.

Confined to a motorised wheelchair, it is one of his favourite spots to go.

But recently the Council decided to limit access to the wetlands after complaints about motorcyclists using the wildlife area and installed fences and a kissing-gate. The gate now effectively bars anyone using a wheelchair and those with pushchairs, said Mr Kemp.

“I haven’t been able to walk my dogs there for the last couple of months,” he said.

“When I complained to the Council about it, they said the changes were to stop people using motorbikes there.

“They actually said if they allowed wheelchairs then that would basically allow motorbikes too – but that’s discrimination against wheelchair users.

“I’m very disappointed as I used to take my St Bernard and two mongrels there nearly every day.

“I have only been able to get in once when a larger gate was left unlocked as they were cutting the grass.”

The wetlands were created from grasslands by the Council five years ago by diverting part of the flow of Bradford Beck to various ponds.

Reed beds were planted to provide a natural way of cleansing water flowing through the beck, with the intention that the improved water could be incorporated into plans for the city centre’s regeneration and the reopening of the Bradford Canal.

Mike Bell, the Council’s assistant director of asset management, said: “We have arranged to meet Mr Kemp on site and discuss access.

“The site has had to be fenced off as noise from motorbikes was causing a nuisance to residents. The gates are designed to stop them getting through.

“We appreciate the kissing-gate is a problem for some people, especially wheelchair users, but we are happy to discuss making arrangements for regular users of the wetlands.”