A COUNCILLOR has condemned the closure of a Skipton town centre road which he says is only adding to traffic chaos.

Road works are taking place at the end of Brewery Lane and drivers are being diverted to the top end of the High Street.

But, says Skipton North town councillor John Dawson, the works should have been put back until the New Year as Jerry Croft, at the side of the Town Hall, is also currently closed to vehicles.

Diversions are causing traffic hold-ups on the High Street at busy times, and the Brewery Lane works are adding to traffic congestion, says Cllr Dawson.

He wrote to North Yorkshire County Council highways chiefs last week to ask that the Brewery Lane works be put back until the New Year.

In his letter, Cllr Dawson points out the "already difficult position on Skipton High Street due to the closure of Jerry Croft being made far worse by the closure of Brewery Lane and diversion of traffic down the High Street. Common sense and the good of Skipton would lead the closure to be in January, not now."

In further correspondence he wrote: "All this is happening in the run-up to Christmas. It sometimes seems as if our councils are seeking to close Skipton down for business when decisions such as this are made. Please reconsider."

A reply from the highways department said: "Please accept my apologies in advance for any disruption caused by the closure of Brewery Lane. However, these works are for a very short duration and are timed to ensure that the work to Brewery Lane is completed prior to the Christmas shopping period in Skipton."

Cllr Dawson, who is also Skipton's mayor, said he was "very disappointed" that the Brewery Lane work - widening the road to improve access - had gone ahead now.

He told the Craven Herald: "I wrote to them late but then the signs informing us of the work went up late too. I still don't see why Brewery Lane could not have waited a few weeks, especially with everything that's going on in Jerry Croft. I went into town from Gargrave Road on Monday and it took much longer than usual - cars were backed right up."