The go-ahead for Skipton's improved bus station looks set to be given by the end of this month.

North Yorkshire County Council has already unveiled its plans for a revamped station, access road, car parks, taxi rank, toilets and passenger waiting area.

But it has woven slight amendments into its £1.2 million plans following the recent consultation.

These include increasing the number of bus stands from seven to eight, providing emergency and delivery access for businesses next to the bus station, putting in an additional taxi rank space and installing 24-hour toilets.

The current plan is for the toilets to be at the Gallows Bridge side of the site so they can be used by canal-users. As the facilities will be available 24-hours, the county council has decided to install automatic toilets, which will be self cleaning and comply with disability requirements.

Craven District Council's policy committee has given its backing to the bus station plans.

In a report to the committee, head of leisure and community services Peter Chapman said: "It is recognised that the current design cannot satisfy everyone's expectations of the bus station.

"But, given the resources available and the complexity of the issue, this is the best affordable option to replace a facility which is ageing and inadequate for Skipton and the greater Craven community.

"It is a huge improvement to that currently offered and provides reasonable future proofing to enable bus services in particular to cope with what is hoped to be additional demand of public transport in the coming years."

Mr Chapman said the planning application was due to be determined on December 18 and then a contractor would be appointed.

He said the redevelopment would take three-and-a-half months and could start in April or May.

Not everyone is pleased about the plans, however. Norman Simpson, owner of bus company Pennine Motors, said he had three main problems with the county council's proposals - the number of stands for buses, the location of the toilets and the size of the passenger waiting area.

"I am fighting for a better bus station for the rural community - this is what it's about.

"I think the car has peaked and we will need extra buses. Two years ago, who would have thought there'd be a bus to Harrogate. Next year, maybe we'll get a service to Windermere. We need to get more stands."

And Coun Patricia Fairbank said she was not "enamoured" with the plans.

"When you go and look what they have at Keighley, it's ridiculous," she said.

But Coun David Ireton said Skipton had lost out on money for the bus station before and now he was just eager to move ahead.

And Coun Polly English said a handful of councillors had fought tooth and nail to get the £1.2 million. "Let's be positive about it and be pleased we have got it," she said.