A RESIDENTIAL parking scheme for Skipton was just one of several traffic issues thrashed out by the town council.

Members gathered at a special meeting at which questions were asked of representatives from North Yorkshire Council's Highways Department.

Everything from the cleaning of roadsigns to marking out footpaths between market stalls were discussed in a bid to map out the future of Skipton's highways.

Several issues are yet to be investigated but imminent and tangible plans include traffic calming measures to reduce the speed limit reduced to 30mph along the length of Gargrave Road and Broughton Road.

And the joint residential parking scheme between the Highways Department and Craven District Council, to give Skipton home owners their own spots in front of their houses is in the final stages of consultation.

Mayor Paul Whitaker, who chaired the special meeting, said: "It was an opportunity to meet and discuss all these different traffic matters.

"We asked them about the possibility of having clearways on the setts in Skipton. This would mean white lines so that there is a definite footpath around and in between the stalls on market days.

"We have had a couple of accidents with people falling and breaking limbs recently, but the setts are privately owned so the owners have to take responsibility for the state of them.

"This is a major issue and it's up to the shop owners to look after their own frontages and put the setts right.

"Another major issue was that of residential parking in Skipton. The town council hasbeen asking for such a scheme for many years.

"At the moment many visitors and the town's office workers park outside people's homes all over Skipton.

"The traffic calming measures on Gargrave Road and Broughton Road, bringing them down to 30mph, are much needed.

"And on a more trivial note I asked that some of the other speed signs are cleaned up around town, because some of them are literally green with lichens and they would stand out more after a scrub."

Highways department area traffic manager Bill Isherwood, who attended the meeting, said: "Both the Gargrave Road and Broughton Road calming schemes are active and will be going ahead before the end of this financial year. There are just some further consultations with residents to be done.

"Chances are there will be rumble strips on the approaches to these sections of road. The residents parking scheme is still in the survey stages and we are also looking into the possibility of installing more lighting at the end of Broughton Road at the junction with the A59."

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