EXPANDED public transport has been a big success this summer, according to The Dales National Park Authority.

Bus and train passengers around Craven are now being encouraged to add their transport and recreation needs to a Dales management strategy to be completed next month.

The consultation document will then be analysed by national park officers.

The Dales plan, to be titled "Yorkshire Dales:Today and Tomorrow", may influence North Yorkshire County Council as it prepares its Local Transport Plan which will be submitted to the Government for possible funding.

Andy Ryland, Transport and Visitor officer for the authority, said figures showed that increasing numbers of visitors had been using new bus services from Bradford and Leeds to explore popular destinations such as Malham and Grassington.

This may lead to exciting projects for better rail and bus integration.

In Craven, only 15 metres of rail track are needed to connect the Embsay Steam Railway with the Swinden freight line and Skipton. A reconnection could open up lucrative new services between Embsay, Upper Wharfedale and the national rail network.

Bus services for special events such as Grassington Festival or this week's Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival could cut down on the hundreds of cars causing gridlock in peak periods.

Copies of the consultation document can be obtained from all national park centres.

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