PROTESTORS and counter-protestors took to the streets of Settle on Tuesday to campaign against heavy goods vehicles in the town.

The Peace in our Town group, led by retired vicar Rev James Richardson, walked in two groups from the Falcon Manor Hotel and the war memorial garden to the Market Place.

They called for a ban on HGVs through Settle and for quarry traffic to use the bypass and Buckhaw Brow to reach Giggleswick, Horton, Arcow and Dry Rigg quarries.

At the same time a counter-demonstration, led by Craven district councillor Richard Welch, took place, with hauliers' and quarry workers' families and those against the lorries using the alternative route marching to the Market Place from Bridge End.

Townsfolk lined the streets, eager to see who was protesting.

The two opposing factions converged on the Market Place where the Peace in our Town groups failed to meet up, seriously diluting the force of their message, said Mr Richardson.

"I think it was a total failure. I am very sad and disappointed.

"Out of the total Settle population only 50 people took part and were prepared to be counted.

"Why the two groups did not meet up I don't know. By the time my group got there from the Falcon, the other group had gone on to the side of the road and the traffic was coming through, so the effect of our getting together in the centre of the road and holding up our banners just didn't happen.

"I just feel so sad and disappointed with it and such was the lack of real concern expressed that I just feel what's the point now.

"I honestly don't think there's very much more that I can do. I think I have probably got more useful things to do with my time," said Mr Richardson.

The counter-demonstrators clapped and cheered as lorries came through the town before the marchers dispersed.

Mr Welch, a former quarry worker and haulier, said he turned up with his placard reading "No diversion, protect our schoolchildren," without telling many people what he was going to do.

"I was absolutely flabbergasted at the support I got. I just went down to Bridge End and all of a sudden all these people started appearing. The support I had was a lot of hauliers' and quarryworkers' wives, and people who didn't want the lorries to go past Settle Middle and High Schools.

"It was quite emotional at times," Mr Welch told the Herald.

The Peace in our Town group maintain that the lorries should use the bypass and be reimbursed for the extra costs incurred by the quarry owners.

"It could be done. I have no argument with the hauliers. They should be reimbursed by the people making all the money - the quarries themselves," said Mr richardson.

However, Mr Welch said his main concern was for the safety of schoolchildren at the Middle and High Schools if wagons took the alternative route.

"Anybody outside those schools at 9am and 3.15am know that it would be a disaster waiting to happen," he said.