A PROPOSAL for the longest pedestrian rope bridge in the world is to be taken to its next stage soon, and there are hopes it can be opened to the public as a tourist attraction next year.

But the project to install the 550ft structure over the River Tees, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, at a cost of about £4.5m, is still facing strong opposition.

It is the idea of Teesdale Marketing, a voluntary group of business people set up to improve the economy of the area by attracting visitors and helping local companies boost their incomes.

Chairman Bill Oldfield said: "So far, we have been talking only about the concept of the bridge. Our next stage is to have plans prepared so there is something definite to be considered.

"This will involve a route to and from the bridge, sites for a visitor centre and car park, discussions with landowners, and all the other details that have not yet been committed to paper. We hope the concept can be turned into a plan by the spring."

Teesdale Marketing believes the bridge, 150ft above the river on the site of a railway viaduct that was demolished in 1972, will attract up to 165,000 visitors a year.

It is estimated they will spend £1.15m on the bridge site and another £2.9m in other parts of the area, generating 87 jobs.

Teesdale District Council has backed the idea, but will decide on planning permission when designs are drawn up.

Mr Oldfield said: "Our group is made up of volunteers who do not get any pay or expenses for their efforts. Our aim is to help the whole of Teesdale and we believe the bridge will do that.

"I have heard it suggested that I will want to run a cafe there and make money out of it, but this is certainly not the case."

A bid is soon to be made for funding to produce the plans and carry out other initial works.

Bids for the main project funding will be made to the European Regional Development Fund, Durham Strategic Partnership, the Woodland Adventure Experience and the National Lottery.

Opposition has been voiced by several groups and people, including retired airline pilot Robin Rackham, who said the project could harm the countryside.

Barnard Castle Golf Club members fear an access road may be too near a playing area, putting visitors in danger.

Club secretary John Kilgarriff said: "There could be serious danger, as even good golfers hook their shots at times. Even Tiger Woods hits an occasional bad shot."

However, Mr Oldfield said: "We do not yet have a definite plan for an access road, so it is pointless objecting to something which does not exist."

David McKnight, the programme manager for the Market Towns Partnership, which supports the bridge idea, said: "So far, it has been a concept, but it has now been accepted as feasible, and it can take a step forward so that it becomes a working project.

"This will involve having plans drawn for the bridge, with full specifications for it and all the infrastructure, including the access.

"Various professionals will contribute, so it may change in appearance from what has been seen so far.

"We have supported the concept from the start, and want to carry on giving our full support in the next stage."