FOR those people trying to get on with their daily business, a walk down Skipton High Street on market day can be described as an endless obstacle course of shoppers and tourists.

It is exactly these feelings of "pavement rage" which have led to plans for a two-lane pavement being submitted to Westminster City Council.

Traders in Oxford Street in London's West End spearheaded a recent campaign against dawdlers by calling for fines to be introduced, and pavements to be divided into two lanes, one with a minimum 3mph speed limit.

The aim of the campaign is to make life easier for people who have to face a daily battle and also to reduce aggressive behaviour among pedestrians on packed shopping streets.

A spokesman for the campaign said to enforce the new measures, the street could be patrolled by marshals, and slow walkers found straying into the fast lane could be fined £10.

And those using the fast lane would be banned from using cameras, reading maps, eating, listening to personal stereos or talking on mobile telephones.

The campaigners have even advocated the use of speed cameras.

Although no such plans have been suggested for Skipton High Street, the Herald decided to ask locals what they felt about such scheme.

Twenty-two-year-old Philippa Turner, of Silsden, said she thought any such proposal would frighten off the tourists who visited Skipton.

"It's the tourists who make Skipton what it is and I think it would be a bad idea. I understand it can be annoying though, especially if you live here."

She added the thought the idea to have a "fast lane" down the High Street was ridiculous and said she thought it would be almost impossible to police.

Marjorie Hindson, 85, of Skipton, said: "People want to look at things around the market. They don't want to be rushed around. I don't think it would be right to try and make people speed up.

"It's not always that busy anyway. Some people do get under your feet, but you just get used to it. I've got bad knees so I can't walk so fast anyway.

Meanwhile, Maureen Kendall, 57, of Cononley, said: "It can be a bit of a nuisance sometimes when people walk slowly, and it's really annoying when they bring their dogs shopping with them as well.

"Some people also just stop suddenly in the middle of the pavement and stand around in a big circle talking.

"But I suppose all in all it's not anything like London where it must be really hectic all the time. With the size of the pavements though, it is going to get congested.

"I think at the end of the day if we introduced fast lanes they would drive away tourists."

Skipton market trader 25-year-old Rachel Holgate thought the introduction of a fast lane would be disastrous.

"From our point of view we want people to hover round like they do. I know it gets busy on the High Street, but it's mainly only really bad on a Saturday."

North Yorkshire County Councillor Shelagh Marshall, said she thought any ideas to introduce fast lanes in Skipton were absurd.

"I've heard that as well as the proposal for fast lanes in Oxford Street, they're also putting plans forward for lanes for mobile phone users.

"It just would not be practical. How would the older people cope - how can they move quicker than 3mph when they are on their zimmer frames?"

She added: "I think they should concentrate on applying the current by-laws.