SIR - Skipton is grinding to a halt and it is only going to get worse, sadly.

North Yorkshire Highways don’t object to any new development and then do nothing in terms of developing our road infrastructure to support the developments they don’t oppose. Driving back in to Skipton on Saturday morning around 11am it took me 20 minutes to travel from the Keighley Road/Cawder Lane junction to the traffic lights at the top of Carleton Road. Traffic coming to the lights from the opposite direction was queuing from the top of the High Street. The same can happen on any day of the week and this is not just due to the recent works at the Broughton Road junction.

North Yorkshire Highways and Craven District Council have no infrastructure plan for Skipton and this traffic chaos is already happening before all of the new housing developments open up to new residents. They are quite simply destroying the town with their short-sighted actions and inactions and it will only get worse due to developments such as Wyvern Park including no amenities in the plans. They need to take action now to review this serious situation and develop a proper transport plan for the town and surrounding area.

Just one further question to add for the Highways (authority) ; what has happened to the plan for the A59 at Kex Gill which only seems to be talked about by the Highways (authority) when the existing route is closed please? It is all very well arranging consultation meetings when the road is closed but, what about action to follow up all of the talking? We are waiting please for the final plans and approval before yet another closure may occur which will cost business so much income and, inconvenience so many people.

Now; Northern Rail who have allowed strikes to go ahead for 19 weekends in a row from August to the end of December creating a hugely negative impact for both business and leisure activities. The cost to Skipton businesses will be so large it will be hard to measure and we already know many people are now not visiting the town and surrounding area and all of the many excellent events that are so well planned and delivered. I should also add that many people are missing out on their regular days and nights out in Leeds and Bradford as a consequence of this strike.

I will not pretend to understand fully the issue behind the strike and all I would ask is that both parties get together please to resolve this strike for the benefit and, to the satisfaction of all parties. Surely, no strike should be allowed to run for such a length of time without any form of meaningful negotiation taking place to bring it to a conclusion?

There is so much to be enjoyed in our beautiful town and the organisers of the wide range of events throughout the year should be congratulated along with BID and, all of those who make Skipton such a great place to live and visit. Craven District Council, North Yorkshire Highways and Northern Rail need to act now to all support the careful development and not destruction of our town, success of businesses and events and open and easy access for all.

Tim Forman

Hothfield Terrace,

Skipton