More accidents will happen in Ilkley town centre if proposed changes to road layouts go ahead.

That's the claim being made by road safety campaigners and civic leaders who have expressed 'deep concerns' about planned road works for Brook Street and Station Road.

Critics say replacing the zebra crossings on both streets with light-controlled, puffin crossings would not only be less safe but also damage the look of the area.

The work is part of the next phase of Ilkley's ambitious road traffic management scheme. The ideas are based on a lengthy study carried out by traffic consultants Faber Maunsell.

But the idea to install puffin crossings, now included in the final plans which are currently being displayed at Ilkley Library and the Clarke Foley Centre, were not included in that report.

John Cockshott, Chairman of Ilkley Civic Society Transport Planning Working Party, said: "When the Faber Maunsell report was presented to the public last year, it was warmly welcomed and approved.

"But it retained the zebra crossings and stated that 'the overall package of measures for the central area is aimed at achieving a significant improvement in accessibility and reducing the current perceived dominance of the private car'.

"We are greatly concerned by the proposal in the current consultation to replace the zebra crossings at the south end of Brook Street and on Station Road with signal controlled crossings.

"We consider the zebras to be safe, effective, popular with users, and they put the pedestrian firmly in control in this important part of our town.

"They put pedestrians first. Signal controlled crossings mean pedestrians can only cross when permitted to do so. They put vehicles first and they do so at the heart of the town."

The Society also claims the change would be inconsistent with work being carried out on Springs Lane and The Grove which is designed to improve things for pedestrians. And it points out that the changes would take place at the heart of Ilkley Conservation Area, where more railings and bright lights would be "out of character".

Those concerns are shared by Ilkley Parish Councillor and Ilkley Design Statement Group Secretary Kate Brown, who is urging people to make their feelings known at consultation meetings taking place in town during the next three days.

She said: "We are concerned that putting puffin crossings in Brook Street and Station Road will lead to additional street furniture and more street lines.

"We would urge residents to attend this consultation and express their views because the zebras are within the conservation area and seem to work very well - if something's not broken then don't fix it."

For Grove Road resident and retired maths lecturer Colin Carpenter, meanwhile, whose work involved computer simulations of traffic movement, road safety is the chief concern.

Mr Carpenter, 73, who has lost three friends in road accidents in Ilkley over the last 40 years, said: "The initial proposals were put forward with a high level of public approval, when the idea was to make Ilkley a safer place to live in.

"But changing the zebra crossings to puffins will, I believe, make these roads less safe.

"Statistically, there are more accidents at light- controlled crossings than at zebras. We hope as many people as possible will get to these meetings and make known their feelings, because I want Ilkley to be a safe place for people to walk around in, not a convenient place for people to speed through."

Mr Cockshott said the Civic Society also had safety worries, and repeated the call for local people to voice their concerns.

"If the zebras are removed, it is our concern that people will retain their existing behaviour and accidents will result," he said. "Those in a hurry to, for example, catch trains, will ignore 'don't walk' lights when using the crossings."

Bradford's environment chief and Ilkley district and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth, however, dismissed the criticism.

She said: "I think most residents consider it an eminently sensible idea. Anyone who doesn't agree can make their objections known."

Comments on the plans can be made at the Clarke Foley Centre from 4.30pm to 8.30pm today, from 12.30pm to 5.30pm tomorrow, and from 9am to 4.30pm on Saturday. The plans are also on show at the public library until Saturday.