A TOWN manager should be employed to co-ordinate the clean-up of Skipton's "disgraceful" town centre, says a local resident.

Henry Meyer, of Rockwood Drive, implored locals and councillors to look after what he described as the "jewel of Craven".

He told Craven District Council's community services committee: "Skipton could be a real jewel if only we look after it. It is such a lovely place and we are very privileged to live in this area, yet when I go around the town I am stunned by the dilapidated state we have let it get into."

He listed a number of problem areas, including shop and office fronts with "tatty" posters and unpainted signs.

He called the outside of the town hall "an absolute disgrace" with torn and out-of-date posters, labels and stickers ruining the frontage.

"We just don't seem to care. We don't bother about how untidy we leave the town," said Mr Meyer.

"There is a spectacular walk behind the castle, but the steps leading to it haven't been swept for years, they really are a disgrace."

He also outlined a problem with graffiti at the bus station and in the car parks, and said direction signs within and pointing to Skipton had been pointing in the wrong direction for months.

"The image of this town is one of tattiness and not caring and that is very sad," he said.

"Part of the problem is that no one seems to be responsible for anything. If you try to get anything done you get a reply that it is not their responsibility. What Skipton needs is someone in charge of Skipton who goes around saying 'this needs painting', or if he sees something he can get it done."

Coun Mike Doyle said the question of a town manager had been raised by a Skipton town working group formed some six years ago. "It died because of costs and the question of who would pay for such a person," he said.