RADICAL traffic calming proposals for Skipton are being put before the public in a bid to cut down accidents at two blackspots.

Invaluable feedback is being sought, mainly from the people living in and around Broughton and Gargrave Roads, which have seen a combined total of 56 injury accidents in the last five years.

Plans as far ranging as cycle lanes for Broughton Road and cutting out school buses on the four-school Gargrave Road were considered by North Yorkshire County councillors in Harrogate on Monday.

But most decided that public involvement was needed to help create a fully-rounded and long-term traffic plan for the town.

Original proposals by highways officers included the reduction of the speed limit to 30mph and the provision of formal on-street parking along Broughton Road.

The experts also mooted the idea of introducing pedestrian islands near Skipton Girls' High School on Gargrave Road, as well as a reduction in the carriageway by building formal parking bays.

But pedestrians' champion Coun Mike Doyle, who wants to see Skipton becoming more foot and cycle friendly, put forward an alternative set of proposals to be considered along with the original plans.

His ideal scenario for Broughton Road would include the provision of cycle lanes along much of the carriageway and the inclusion of coloured surfacing and flat road humps near Skipton Station.

And for Gargrave Road he would like to see 'more priority to cyclists and pedestrians', partly by banning buses from loading and unloading outside Ermysted's Grammar School.

The idea of mini-roundabouts at the junctions with Rockwood Drive and Coach Street is one of several other alternative proposals put forward.

After mulling over both sets of proposals, the county's Area Three Highway Sub-committee decided to let the people decide what should be done by means of a wide ranging consultation exercise, taking in potentially affected residents and organisations like the Chamber of Trade and town council.

Coun Robert Heseltine told the meeting: 'There is an accident record that needs correcting and I am confident that we can come up with a scheme to improve safety.'

Coun Doyle added: 'As the initiator of the second plan, I feel we need to look at the long-term future and not just at here and now.

'We know that Broughton Road, being flat, is ideal for non-powered access into Skipton. If we provide for cyclists we may find that more will come out of the woodwork.

'At the moment we make it impossible for young people to use any form of transport other than cars, or their feet on very narrow pavements.'

Others were less convinced about the alternative plans, including Coun Shelagh Marshall, who said: 'You have three major schools creating an enormous amount of people being dropped off and picked up by cars in any case at certain times of day.'

The findings of the public consultation exercise will be presented to the same committee in the new year, when traffic calming in Skipton should take another step forward.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.