Date for transformational £7.8m Skipton Gateway scheme

The ‘Skipton Gateway’ project aims to create a more attractive entrance to the town with both improved pedestrian and public transport links.

Plans include transforming the entrance of the train station with a new public plaza, as well as widened footpaths on Carleton Street and improved pedestrian crossings on several streets – creating easier and safer routes to the town centre and also to Craven College, Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton Girls High School and Skipton Academy.

Carleton Street will also be converted to one-way extending the existing one-way system on Cross Street.

The proposals had included a cycle lane on Broughton Road between Skipton train station and the town centre, but this was scrapped after concerns were raised over the safety of cyclists and loss of a taxi rank.

Instead, widened footpaths and a 20mph speed limit are now planned for a stretch of the road.

Other changes include resurfacing footpaths by the canal and improving Gallows Bridge.

The process to draw up detailed designs for the scheme is almost finished and the first planning application will be submitted next month for Gallows Bridge.

The council will then consult the public on proposed Traffic Regulation Orders in August before the changes are considered by local councillors – likely to be at the Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee, a meeting of the new North Yorkshire Council which is due to meet for the first time on June 1.

At the same time, a full business case for the project will also be submitted to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which won the initial funding from the government.

If this is approved, the council will appoint a building firm to carry out the works with construction set to begin in the winter, with an expected completion of spring, 2025.

The project has been in the works for several years after government funding was won through the Transforming Cities Fund. It was a joint project between the former Craven District Council and former North Yorkshire County Council before they were both replaced by the new North Yorkshire Council on April 1.

But since then, the price of building materials has risen considerably and inflation has topped 10 per cent, which has put pressure on projects across the country.

However, North Yorkshire Council’ Conservative executive member for highways, Cllr Keane Duncan, said council is still working towards its £7.8 million budget.

Cllr Duncan added: “The Skipton Gateway project promises to be transformational for the town.

It hopes to create a more attractive area around the railway station and improve accessibility into the town centre for all by enhancing walking, cycling and bus infrastructure. In turn, this will help to reduce congestion and support economic growth in the area.”

You can read about all the proposals here –