A SKIPTON businesswoman is relocating her shop because of proposed traffic calming measures.

Peta Jenkins, who runs Flowers By Design on Otley Street, said the planned rising bollard, operated by keypad, would deter people from using the road and its shops.

"We get passing trade and people don't know we exist unless they're walking or driving past," she said.

She added that the decision to move also came in light of a 31 per cent increase in her rent, commenting: "The two things together were the final straw."

Mrs Jenkins said she believed the bollard was to deter "boy racers" from using Otley Street, but she could not see what it would achieve.

She will continue trading from the current shop until she has found new premises.

North Yorkshire County Council highways officer, Ken Martin, said the measures for Otley Street were due to be considered at a Craven Area Committee meeting on March 8.

He explained that the proposed bollard would be keypad operated and the code would be on the post. He said it was designed to keep out vehicles except for access.

Mr Martin said it would not stop cars wanting to use the shops, but would slow them down as they would have to stop and enter a code.