A MARKET officer is to be put in place to bring improved organisation to Skipton market.

Craven District Council has decided to transfer responsibility for the management from its licensing section to the town centre manager Chris Aldred.

He will be holding interviews for the new market officer in the next month and it is thought the successful candidate will be in post by mid to late April.

He told the Herald: "It is hoped some immediate effects of these changes may be better enforcement of the existing market byelaws and trading rules, particularly those relating to traders' vehicles parked near stalls."

Meanwhile the chief executive of Craven District Council Gill Dixon has been giving her views to the overview and scrutiny group set up to look into the future of Skipton High Street.

Three options have been put forward for the market's future management.

Mrs Dixon favoured a course of action which included improved management under a market officer and the voluntary transfer of the ownership of the setts from frontagers to North Yorkshire County Council.

She also suggested Craven District Council seek external funds to assist with the restoration of the setts and review the licence fee of stallholders.