HOUSEHOLDERS finally enjoying some peace and quiet have spoken out in favour of an under-fire one way system in Otley.

Scores of motorists have complained that the recently introduced change, affecting Charles Street, Nelson Street and Walkergate, has been causing gridlock at peak times.

And a petition calling for the new system to be abandoned has already attracted some 400 signatures.

But residents on Walkergate say the restriction has made a massive difference to their lives - and are calling on drivers to adapt.

Anne Dean said: "It's all very well for people who don't live here to say it's inconvenient, but for us this is a great relief and none of us want to see it go back to two-way traffic.

"We've finally got an opportunity to be free of all the pollution, noise and 'Mexican stand-offs' that used to take place.

"We've had about 15 years of that, with the pollution so bad we couldn't open our windows.

"I've now noticed a real difference - I'm sleeping better, it's not so noisy at night and in the mornings and we're finally getting some peace.

"I understand that some people will be unhappy for a short while but they'll get used to it, it's just a matter of ditching old habits."

Former traffic police officer Sylvia Rudley, who has lived on the street for 15 years, agreed: "It's an incredible difference with less noise, pollution, arguments and smashed wing mirrors.

"I know it's causing some problems for drivers but they have got to understand what a difference it has made to us. We have to go around the houses a bit too now to get home, it's just about getting used to it."

The residents did, however, acknowledge that there were some problems with the way the scheme has been implemented.

The new traffic island on Nelson Street, at its junction with Crossgate, has been causing problems for bus drivers as they try to turn out of the station.

Mrs Rudley also believes the streets should have been made one-way in the opposite direction, rather than for traffic travelling from Pool Road into town.

Overall though, the feeling on Walkergate is one of relief.

Postman Darren McNamara said: "We've only been here since last August but in that time what we've witnessed on the road really took me aback - just how bad the traffic was and seeing at least a couple of stand-offs between drivers, shouting abuse atone another, a day.

"In the summer we'd be in the kitchen having our tea and diesel fumes would come in as the traffic backed up on both sides - that makes you worry, we've got three kids and I worry about the impact of that on their health.

"The one-way system has made a huge difference, the traffic has really died down."