NEW traffic lights and road widening at the oldest part of Skipton have worried the town's Civic Society.

North Yorkshire County Highways are still in the consultation stage but intend to make the junction of Water Street and Grassington Road more pedestrian friendly.

Plans show that this could be achieved by installing six traffic lights and two pedestrian crossings. A triangular area at the foot of Chapel Hill will be paved for cycle stands and the two lanes at the end of Water Street will become one.

The pedestrian crossings are pencilled in for outside the Royal Oak pub to Stanforths and from Stanforths to the seat on Mill Bridge. Water Street and the bottom of Chapel Hill would be narrowed and additional features include new signs and studded paving.

Secretary of the Civic Society Gwynne Walters said that the society was not campaigning, or even arguing whether the lights were needed or not but had reservations about the visual impact on the oldest part of the town's conservation area.

She added: "Of course the society is concerned about pedestrian safety but is provision not only of the safest but the speediest routes for safety conscious pedestrians worth such environmental intrusion?"

The group believes that the narrowing of Water Street, which will mean the loss of the left filter, would cause long tailbacks and tempt motorists to shortcut via Elliot Street. They claim that businesses at the foot of Chapel Hill could lose space for delivery vehicles, traffic would be halted even if there are no pedestrians wishing to cross.

The secretary added: "The society feels strongly that county highways' proposals should be widely publicised so that as many Skiptonians as possible realise their implications and can register their views."

Comments for and against the scheme can be sent to North Yorkshire County Council, Environmental Services, Skipton area, Croft House, Carleton Road, Skipton, BD23 2BG by Wednesday November 12.