Skipton is set for a £200,000 programme of work on its roads and pavements in the next year.

Highways officers will soon embark on the next stages of the town's traffic management strategy for 2006/07.

Today (Friday) and tomorrow North Yorkshire County Council is staging a mini exhibition in Skipton Town Hall on a £110,000 scheme to address traffic and congestion in Caroline Square.

This could see the installation of a new roundabout at the Swadford Street junction, a new pedestrian crossing on Newmarket Street, the re-alignment of the existing roundabout and widening the setts at the entrance to Newmarket Street.

Construction would take place next year or the year after.

Other Skipton Traffic Management Strategy projects planned for 2006/07 are:

o Otley Street pedestrian zone - the plan is to improve the environment for those on foot by keeping out unpermitted vehicles using measures such as an automatic rising bollard. Construction should be in the summer or autumn.

o Sheep Street pedestrian zone - this is the same concept as Otley Street - keeping vehicles out using physical methods. Construction is scheduled for the spring or summer.

o Central area 20 mph zone - this will remind drivers to keep low speeds in off peak times and the evening. Consultation for the project is in progress.

o Footway improvements at Black Walk - the county council is in discussions with Network Rail, owners of the path, with a view to taking on maintenance. Work will start following negotiations.

o Residents' only parking - during this year consultation documents should start winging their way to residents living in phase one of the scheme (mainly homeowners in areas of Middletown, Consort Street and Princes Drive) with implementation scheduled for 2007/08.

o Lorry ban and sign rationalisation - new and replacement traffic and pedestrian signs have already been put up around the town, but highways officers are still awaiting the arrival of signs informing lorry drivers of the town centre ban. It is envisaged these will be in place in May.

Separate to the Skipton Traffic Management Strategy, £55,000 has been set aside in 2006/07 for the refurbishment of the town's bus station.

Coun Robert Heseltine said this week: "The bus station is caught in a time-warp - it was designed for the transport needs of the 1950s and 60s, not for the needs of the 21st century.

"It ought to be brought fully up-to-date. It is unfriendly, unsafe, badly lit, the public conveniences are a disgrace and it is disliked by operators and passengers alike."

And this year will see the conclusion of ongoing projects from the last financial year.

Work was due to continue this week to create more disability friendly pavements such as dropped kerbs and tactile paving around the town and in the next few weeks the pedestrian crossing on Mill Bridge will be up and running.

Work started on February 13 and highways officers are now awaiting the arrival of the crossing lights.

Residents living in the Salisbury Street/Raikeswood Road area have recently been consulted on plans to bring in traffic calming. This matter was due to be discussed by the Craven Area Committee yesterday (Thursday).

However officers have recommended the measures are not put in place in light of the number of objectors.

The Skipton Traffic Management Strategy was adopted in December 2002 and completed elements include the introduction of puffin crossings on the Bailey and Brougham Street and bus stop and footpath improvements around the town.

The Skipton schemes are part of a £475,000 schedule of works for the Craven area.

Other elements include a study scheme at Beamsley Hill, introduction of a right turn lane at Halton East, footway improvements at Barden Bridge and the installation of a crossing point near to Bolton Abbey railway station.