TRAFFIC calming measures proposed for North Craven have been released for consultation.

Settle town councillors have already given their response to the preliminary traffic calming measures proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the B6479 and the B6480 through Settle and Giggleswick.

The proposals include "gateway" features on each of the roads at the entrances to Settle and Giggleswick.

These would comprise a nameplate stating "Please drive carefully", 30mph speed restriction signs, plus "30" carriageway markings on a buff-coloured patch and bar marks on the approach.

There would also be a number of "SLOW" carriageway markings.

The proposals also include areas of central hatched markings to create a narrower carriageway effect at the bend near the Harts Head Inn at Giggleswick, at the Cammock Lane/Duke Street junction and at the bend near Anley Grange in Settle.

It is also proposed to erect new advance warning signs and chevron boards on Stackhouse Lane and on the bend near Anley Grange.

Furthermore, there are proposals to create a larger island with a pedestrian refuge at the B6479/Church Street junction, in conjunction with the removal of the existing right-turn lane and the narrowing of the carriageway by the introduction of bus and parking bays.

There are also proposals to "build-out" the footways to reduce the width of the carriageway and create priority working at Undercliffe, Settle.

The idea behind this is to widen the footways for pedestrians and reduce the traffic speeds entering the Market Place.

Buff-coloured anti-skid treatment would also be placed on the existing "pinch-point" at the north end of Settle Market Place and on the proposed "pinch-point" described for Undercliffe.

The plans also include the installation of an island with a pedestrian refuge at the Cammock Lane junction with Duke Street and to revise the signing and carriageway markings at Ingfield Rail Bridge.

The county council also wants to extend the 30mph zone on the B6480 Langcliffe Road to a point north of the Barrel Sykes development.

Craven District Council, parish councils in the area, emergency services and others affected by the proposals are currently being consulted about the plans.

Settle Town Council has submitted a lengthy response to the proposals, with a few of the suggestions causing concern.

One of the main fears was that the introduction of further pedestrian refugees, or "pinch points", on the approach to the town centre could cause further congestion with lorries travelling through the town.

Coun Tom Foster told the Herald there could be no argument when it came to introducing policies to heighten road safety, but he added that the proposals still needed to be practical.

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