TOWN leaders must work with Addingham villagers to achieve the best solution to controversial traffic lights on the A65, say Ilkley parish councillors.

Members of Ilkley Parish Council this week called for discussions with Addingham Parish Council about any changes to the traffic lights at the Skipton Road junction with Victoria Avenue.

Addingham councillors recently called for Bradford Council to make changes to the lights, claiming they caused traffic congestion on the A65, which at times backed up as far as the village, causing problems for Addingham residents.

However, they came into conflict with Ilkley ward councillor and Bradford Council environment chief, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, over the lights, and accused Ilkley of being 'selfish and stubborn' about the issue.

Now Ilkley parish councillors have admitted there are problems with the lights - and say they want to work with Addingham people to find a solution.

Councillor Brian Mann suggested at Monday's parish council meeting that a filter light on the right turn into Victoria Avenue could be the answer, but other councillors disagreed, saying the only solution is a no right turn at Victoria Avenue, as this would prevent traffic attempting to turn right from causing long queues on the A65.

They instead suggested a right turn at the Skipton Road junction with Easby Drive, where there is room for traffic heading straight on to pass cars attempting to turn.

It is not certain if Bradford Council highways officers would allow this change, however, as the main entrance to All Saints Primary School is on Easby Drive.

Councillor Robinson said she had herself experienced traffic queues on the A65 when driving between Addingham and Ilkley, and believed it was the right turn at Victoria Avenue which caused the problem. But she said lights were needed in Ilkley, to help control the flow of traffic through the town, and cut down on speeding in the residential area.

"I think we should really try to work with Addingham, rather than taking a stance against them," Coun Robinson said.

"The traffic lights are good and they are working, but the one big fault is that it has a right turn into Victoria Avenue.

The main object of the lights was actually that people on Victoria Avenue could get out."

Some people claim traffic has speeded up since the Addingham bypass was built, as it had previously been slowed down as it passed through Addingham's narrow Main Street.

Councillors said they should discuss the issue with Addingham, as well as talking to Bradford Council highways officers about alterations to the lights.

Since the lights were installed the Gazette has received a number of letters from motorists complaining about the delays caused by their introduction.