TALKS to thrash out how to reduce the down-time of the barriers at Kildwick level crossing are being held with rail bosses.

But it could be some years before drivers will see a reduction in the long tail-back - sometimes stretching as far as the junction with the Aire Valley trunk road.

And the difference in time could be in seconds rather than minutes, councillors at Skipton area committee were told when they met in Settle.

North Yorkshire County Council's Graham North said: "Network Rail is looking at developing a centralised signal centre in York in the early 2020s.

"So we have an opportunity to work with the rail industry to see what can be done at Kildwick crossing over the next few years for the benefit of drivers.

"We' re not talking about minutes but seconds but until we do the investigation we don't know how much time we can save."

Councillors heard that the barrier can be down as much as 50 minutes in any hour creating long queues in either direction.

Mr Brown said he had already spent some time investigating the down time and its impact on the area and had observed how long the barrier had been down and the effect on traffic.

Craven Councillor Philip Barrett, who represents Glusburn ward, said the mere fact that Network Rail seemed to want to address the situation was a "seed change" it the rail company's approach.

"In the past they have said they can do nothing but now we have a glimmer of hope that something will happen which is good to hear."

Craven Councillor David Ireton said there was also an opportunity to identify the possibility of a station at Cross Hill and it should be flagged up in the local plan.

He hoped that talks with Network Rail would investigate whether a station would be viable. "If we don't raise the issue now we could see the opportunity being lost," he said.