By John Baron
The future of historic Newlay Weir is still unclear – four years after it was partially destroyed during a storm.
As previously reported by WLD, 333-year-old Newlay Weir was badly damaged during Storm Christophe three years ago, which led to large parts of the weir being washed down the River Aire.
An independent report confirmed three years ago that the construction of a fish pass at the same time is likely to have contributed towards the Grade II Listed weir being badly damaged during the storm.
Since then, members of Newlay Conservation Society have been calling for the concrete fish pass at the side of what remains of the weir to be demolished.
And they are repeating their concerns that unspecified legal action – understood to be between a riparian landowner and the Environment Agency – could mean there will be no movement on the issue for some time.
Chairman Martin Hughes told WLD: “The whole matter is now entangled with lawyers. Therefore, all sides are not saying anything.”
A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said they could not comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.
At the time of the collapse in 2021 work was being carried out on the Heritage Lottery-funded £2.7 million DNAire project to install fish passes at Newlay, Armley, Kirkstall and Saltaire.
The Larinier fish pass along the right bank of Newlay Weir was designed to allow passage over the weir for salmon and sea trout, which migrate from the Humber Estuary to the headwaters of the River Aire.
The Newlay goit in Rein Road, Newlay, was created in the 12th century on land given by Nigel de Horsforde for the monks to provide power for their corn mill at Kirkstall Abbey. Newlay Weir was built in about 1690 to provide increased flow of water to the goit for improved power for Kirkstall Forge.
Follow WLD‘s ongoing coverage of Newlay Weir here.
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