SETTLE haulier Mike Warren believes anti-truck campaigners trying to divert HGVs out of town fail to understand the haulage industry.

Mr Warren, whose business is based on Sowarth Industrial Estate, claims local truck companies cannot afford to send their HGVs around the town onto the bypass given the high price of fuel.

However, he admits the group Trucks Out of Settle Town Centre, who spoke out in last week's Herald, do have a case.

Mr Warren said: "There is no question they do have a point. They ought to address some of the problems caused by some of the hauliers coming through so early. I can quite understand that.

"They could also introduce permits allowing local hauliers to come through Settle but keeping long distance drivers out. This would cut the traffic considerably. It would take the long distance articulated HGVs out. I can see no reason why they couldn't go around by the bypass.

"The long distance wagons are looking for return loads and that small amount of difference in mileage, going around the bypass, would not make any difference to them. There is a permit scheme between Grasmere and Keswick and it seems to work."

However Mr Warren, who still has two wagons standing idle due last week's fuel crisis, felt the timing of the campaign was insensitive.

"The whole nation is up against rising prices," he added. "I don't think these people realise the cost of running a haulage vehicle. If hauliers are doing three or four loads a day it would make a big difference going around by the bypass."

Trucks Out of Settle Town Centre is calling for the wagons to be routed via the bypass to improve safety for pedestrians and other road users, to improve the quality of life of those living in the "flight path" of the wagons, and to preserve the fabric of the many historically important and attractive buildings in Settle.

Andrew Fawcett, one of the founders of the pressure group, said it was not their intention to jeopardise the livelihood of the quarry truck drivers. He said it was up to the quarries to pay the lorry drivers a compensatory amount for using the bypass.

"We are trying to preserve the health and safety of the people of the town," added Mr Fawcett. "It is up to the quarries to stump up the cash for the drivers to stop them going through the town and take a more ecological route."

But retired haulier John Fox, of Settle, believes the quarries will not pay the drivers extra.

"The cost of going round by the bypass is astronomical. It is not feasible. It is a six-mile round return journey, three times a day, five times a week. That is a lot of extra mileage and that comes out of the hauliers' pocket," he said.

Mr Fox, who worked for the local quarry industry for 44 years, said lorries using the bypass would also have to negotiate the "dangerous" Buckhaw Brow.

"It is between two schools which are crammed with children and it is also a steep one in five hill. The road between Giggleswick and Buckhaw Brow is very narrow and if two lorries meet they would almost have to stop."

Mr Fox added: "The people who are doing all the shouting are tradesmen who are not born and bred here.

"They knew when they came what they situation was. In my opinion they are just concerned about their own businesses. Settle is a quarrying area and people should realise this. These lorry drivers have families and need to work."

Mr Fox believes the solution is an HGV warden based in Settle town centre who could report incidents of bad driving to the quarries, for example lorries being driven too fast, making too much noise or in convoy.

o People wanting to express their views on the issue can write to the Trucks Out of Settle Town Centre pressure group at PO Box 14, 38 High Street, Skipton, BD23 1JU.