Bradford & District | Archive | 2002 | September | 27
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Friday 27th Sep 2002.
CREATING a market place in the middle of the Skipton High Street failed to impress locals visiting a display of traffic management options for the town centre.
Three proposals were on display in a marquee at the town hall, but North Yorkshire's traffic manager Graham Cressey stressed that they were still at a preliminary stage.
The views of visitors to the display, and completed questionnaires distributed earlier this month, would be taken into account when a final decision was made, he added.
The options on the table are:
o Option A: this contains specific suggestions, such as replacing the roundabout at the junction between Newmarket Street, Otley Road, Brougham Street and Shortbank Road with signals and a pedestrian crossing.
Residents' parking zones would be created in residential areas, with householders paying a nominal fee for a permit to allow unlimited parking.Visitors would be able to obtain a short-stay parking disc from local shops.
Other ideas include upgrading the canal towpath for pedestrian and cycle use, a signed cycle route from the hospital to the railway station, improving the junction between Mill Bridge and Water Street and implementing a 20mph zone on Brougham Street and Westmoreland Street.
o Option B contains outline proposals for localised traffic calming, a 20 mph zone and improved pedestrian facilities around the High Street, and "Home Zone" in Middletown where residents would choose how to regulate parking.
o Option C includes the controversial redevelopment of the High Street. The first scheme proposes maintaining the setts, and adding a new footpath between the market stalls and the road to increase safety.
The second scheme proposes building a market place in the middle of the road, with the two lanes of the High Street being relocated on either side of the new space. The lanes would actually be wider than at present,.
But local resident Geoffrey Wormald, of Cross Street, was keen to see the market remain in its current location. "It stands as a traditional marketplace, which is how it should be, but they need more crossings."
He dismissed plans to create a new marketplace as daft.
"When the big vans are unloading each morning they are halfway into the road as it is. What would happen if there was only a single carriageway around the outside? They'd end up blocking the road."
However, Mr Wormald said he did like the idea of pedestrian crossing islands across the road, and was impressed by the residents' parking zone concept.
"It's a good idea, because people who work in Skipton park up on the narrow streets in the morning, and are still there when the residents come back from work."
Barbara Barrett, of Hurrs Road, Skipton, said she did not agree with the suggested rearrangement of the market stalls in the High Street.
"I don't know who came up with the idea of putting the market in the centre because it's absolutely stupid. Everything would look a mess," she said.
But she did, however, say this was an ideal opportunity for someone to look at the High Street as a whole, and the ideal opportunity to move the market elsewhere.
"What is needed is a proper covered market like they have in other towns, perhaps behind the town hall or on the canal side of Coach Street car park.
"The stalls could be purpose-built and would look neat all the time so they would benefit the stallholders.
"I've nothing against the stallholders at the moment in the High Street. They do a marvellous job, but the stalls look tatty. It doesn't do anything for them."
Miss Barrett said she was horrified anyone could suggest moving the setts and trees. "These are part of the town's history. Where on earth would they put them," she said.
The last date for returning the questionnnaires is next week.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008