RESIDENTS are being urged to attend the rescheduled Skipton and West Craven area forum after the last one was cancelled because no members of the public turned up.

Last Thursday's meeting, organised by Craven District Council, was due to start at 7pm at Craven College's Aireville Campus, and councillors, police representatives and council officials waited for people to arrive.

However by 7.20pm chairman Coun Marcia Turner said: "It appears that there are no members of the public present. Because this is a public forum I don't see how we can hold the meeting and will have to cancel it."

Speaking afterwards, she said: "We usually hold the meeting at the town hall and I think people may have been put off by it being moved up to Aireville.

"But we are rescheduling it for 7pm on October 31 at Skipton Town Hall.

"It's an opportunity to get through the levels and get some answers on matters such as highways. Surely someone has something they wish to say."

Issues on the agenda will include a review of the area forums, an update on the foot and mouth recovery plan, the community safety strategy and Craven Rural Transport Partnership.

There will also be representatives from the Craven Primary Care Group, the county council, the police, the health authority and the national park.