A new bridge proposed as part of a waterside redevelopment could be an eyesore, residents have warned.

They say a bridge over Oxford Canal, to be built at the bottom of Great Clarendon Street, in Jericho, Oxford, will ruin their views of the landscape.

Objectors fear that a large pedestrian bridge with ramps is being planned to meet the needs of disabled people in wheel chairs wanting to cross the canal.

Residents say it would result in extensive tree felling and have called on British Waterways and Oxford City Council not to ignore pleas for a more sensitive approach.

Paul Hornby, of the Jericho Community Association, said: "We have been trying for 18 months to get British Waterways (BW) to take a sympathetic approach.

"Everyone fears we are going to end up with a monstrosity, with big electrical ramps for wheel chairs.

"It now looks like it is going to be some huge structure that will block the the views of Isis Bridge and views of St Barnabas Church, some of which has taken 140 years to expose.

"The bridge will also result in the demolition of 20 mature trees by the canal. We would much prefer a counter weight bridge. But they refuse to consider that."

The bridge would be the centrepiece of a scheme to redevelop a site around the Castle Mill boatyard.

Spring Residential owns the site and is pressing ahead with plans to build flats on the site.

Residents fear British Waterways and the city council will insist on a pedestrian bridge similar in design to the one included in an earlier failed application.

Spring spokesman Rebekah Paczek said: "Oxford City Council has stipulated its requirement for the inclusion of a bridge as part of the proposals. The design will need to take into account both the Disability Access Guidelines and the operational restrictions imposed by British Waterways.

"We are currently considering different designs for the bridge which we have previously discussed with officers of the council. Spring recognise that the design of the bridge is important to local people, hence why we are considering these various options."

City council chief planning officer Michael Crofton Briggs said: "There was a lot of discussion about the bridge in the previous application. We were keen to see good access across the canal for cyclists and pedestrians."

Jericho city councillor Susanna Pressel said: "I feel planning officers are exercising undue influence on bridge proposals before anyone else has had a chance to look at them. There should be more than one option."