Skipton Chamber of Trade is calling on Craven District Council to investigate an alternative proposal for the development of the town.

The chamber is backing an option put forward by Sebastian Fattorini, of Skipton Castle, who is a member of the Skipton Renaissance team.

He is opposed to the council's plans currently out for consultation which he believes do nothing to solve the problems of traffic congestion and car parking.

Mr Fattorini wants a new road constructed from the bypass to the railway station, where there would be a centrally located car park.

The scheme has been backed by Skipton Chamber of Trade executive committee as worthy of investigation. Members are believed to be hostile to the council's plans but are keen to present some alternatives rather than being wholly negative.

Mr Fattorini said the council's existing scheme could compound the town's problems by trying to compact too much on already congested sites.

"What we need is an integrated transport system with large car parking either over or next to the railway station with the addition of a new bus station and taxi rank," he said. "This could then be linked directly via a new road to the bypass."

He said the benefits would be:

o Reduced traffic on Keighley and Broughton Roads and an easy route to Skipton railway station with parking.

o All tourists could be directed off the bypass to use the new car park with a sign indicating how many spaces remained, thus reducing pressure on town centre car parks.

o Dedicated parking spaces for certain businesses such as HML which employs several hundred but has no car parking.

Mr Fattorini said a continuous flow of minibuses could supply transport to the town centre.

"The current ideas proposed are designed to maximise profits for councils and developers without addressing the needs of the local population," he said.

"Building on the car parks in the centre of town will only remove valuable centrally based car parking spaces which will not solve today, or in the future, the fundamental problems of parking and traffic congestion which in turn stifles the economic growth of the town."

The council has not yet received any communication from the chamber and Mr Fattorini's proposal, but a spokesman said: "We've just held a full public consultation with residents and businesses. We've received hundreds of responses which are now being analysed.

"We are unaware of this proposal being received but look forward to receiving full details which can then be considered."

o Yorkshire Forward will fund a feasibility study into creating a roundabout on the outskirts of Skipton.

The town's renaissance team has drawn up a business plan of short, medium and long-term projects and Yorkshire Forward has cast its eye over it to determine which schemes it wants to progress.

It has shown interest in the "South Skipton employment zone", which would entail installing a roundabout on the western bypass which runs behind Sandylands and Waltonwrays. This would open up a large tract of employment land.

Yorkshire Forward also wants to investigate introducing a climbing wall in the town.

o Craven District Council has extended the deadline on its renaissance proposals for any residents who did not get a consultation document.

John Thorpe, a resident on Cross Street, did not receive a form and was concerned he would miss out on submitting his views on plans for the town.

Hazel Smith, the council's project manager of Skipton Developments, said: "We have extended the deadline to the end of this week for those few who didn't receive a consultation newsletter and we will endeavour to make sure all of Cross Street is given a questionnaire and time to respond."