CAMPAIGNERS have united to form an action group lobbying for quarry wagons to use Settle bypass and avoid the town centre.

Andrew Fawcett is one of the founders of the pressure group Trucks out of Settle Town Centre.

He told the Herald the aims were to remove a serious threat to the safety of pedestrians and road users, improve the quality of life for people living in the "flight path" of HGVs, to preserve the fabric of the many historically important and attractive buildings in Settle and to create a pleasant environment for residents and tourists alike.

Mr Fawcett added: "It is im-portant to emphasise that the group's actions are not intended to jeopardise the livelihood of the quarry truck drivers. We also realise that many lorries will always require access to the town, for deliveries to businesses.

"Our intention is to ensure that the perfectly adequate Settle bypass is used by lorries in order to reach the quarries."

The group consists of residents and traders in the town and they have pledged to continue to speak out until something is done to take the quarry lorries away from Settle town centre.

They have started a letter writing campaign, setting out their views to local councillors and officers, MP David Curry and even Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. They are also lobbying schools and local environmental and historical groups.

Roz Maude, group member, said: "We would really like to work alongside the truckers to find a suitable viable alternative that is good for them and for Settle.

"They can't enjoy driving through Settle any more than we like them doing it."

She added that she was so concerned about her children using their bikes in Settle she had asked the police for advice and was told to tell the youngsters to ride on the pavement. "I fear there is going to be a terrible accident one day," she said.

Mr Fawcett added: "We are going to leave no stone unturned as far as this is concerned. Settle is too nice a town to be spoilt by these wagons. Judging by the numbers of people who signed the last round of petitions to protest about the lorries, there are a large number of people who feel as strongly as we do."

Settle trader Ken Hill, of The Studio, said businesses in the town were suffering as a result of the lorries.

He explained: "I have had lots of comments from visitors. One lady asked if we had a truck convention on, others say they can't recommend staying in Settle to friends because of the noise of the lorries and say they will stop in Grassington or somewhere like that next time.

"It is unfortunate that the lorry drivers take comments about them using Settle town centre as an attack. It is not that we want to destroy their businesses, but there's got to be a compromise because they are destroying ours.

"We are reliant on visitors coming to Settle in the summer and if we don't say anything we will die."

Guest house owner Paul Raistrick said he had received similar comments from guests, who were woken at 4am by the lorries. "They say they would love to come back to Settle, but could they have a room at the back next time. The lorries are frightening people away," he said.