SKIPTON'S scaled-down £7.2 million 'Gateway project' has been described as more of a 'snicket gate'.

After several years in the planning, funding approval for the scheme, originally centred around the town's railway station, has been approved by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority with work possibly starting in the autumn and taking around ten months.

But the project, which was originally worked on by the former Craven District Council and North Yorkshire County Council, and which received planning permission last year, no longer includes the planned reconfiguration of the station car park and a new exit, which North Yorkshire Council says will happen at a 'later date'.

The work will now comprise improvements to pedestrian routes, Black Walk, which goes from the station to behind Morrison's and Tesco's supermarkets, the canal towpath, and the replacement of Gallows Bridge, over the canal, from Gas Street to the bus station.

Skipton North Yorkshire councillor Robert Heseltine (Skipton East) said: "It is a disappointment that the scheme has been significantly watered down, instead of a gateway, we have something more like a snicket gate. The actual scheme seems to be rather cosmetic, with nothing of substance, it's all about tarting things up, and is not acceptable."

Cllr Heseltine said the scheme bore no resemblance to original plans which envisaged a pedestrian route to the town centre above street level. "There is nothing futuristic about this, it is nothing but a sop," he said.

Fellow Skipton councillor, Andy Solloway (Skipton West and West Craven) added: "As usual with these schemes, the costs go up and the schemes get pared down.

"I have always lobbied for the bridge over the canal to and from the bus station, to be ramped to make it disabled and pushchair accessible but this apparently couldn’t be done within the budget or with the available land around it. It would have linked the two public transport hubs in Skipton with a more accessible route, but it was not to be."

The Skipton project is one of three in North Yorkshire, also including Harrogate and Selby which is funded by The Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), costing a total of £44.6 million to enhance access to transport hubs in all three towns, and approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Councillor Keane Duncan, who is standing as the Conservative candidate in May's North Yorkshire and York mayoral election, said: “The plans have been revised to ensure we focus on the elements which gathered the most public support.

“After cross-party discussions, there has been significant change to the schemes, particularly in Harrogate, with the most controversial elements no longer moving forward.

“We will soon begin preparatory work ahead of construction starting. This is a very exciting time for the regeneration of all three town centres.”

The revised £7.2 million Skipton project will deliver the canal path connection from the railway station to the Cattle Mart and college, and improve the walking route to the bus station, along Black Walk, including the replacement of Gallows Bridge.

The council hopes to appoint a contractor for the Skipton work  in July, with construction starting in September, and lasting until June next year.