GOVERNMENT funding for improvements to North Yorkshire's transport system has left council officials scratching their heads.

And the withdrawal of funding for a transport scheme at a coastal town has been met with an angry response.

Although North Yorkshire County Council's allocation of £29.6m in the Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlement was a £1m increase on last year, the authority initially applied for £44.6m.

The bid was for work on roads, including integrated transport schemes, structural maintenance and replacing street lighting.

Councillor Peter Sowray, the council's executive member for environmental services, said: "Some of the statements coming from the Government about procedures are very difficult to interpret.

"As an example, the integrated transport settlement has gone down by £2m and we have been given no money for the replacement of street lighting.

"Yet, the structural maintenance element of the settlement, which includes repairs to roads and footways, has gone up by £3m."

There is no clear indication of when work on the Scarborough Integrated Transport scheme is due to start.

Construction of the £26.9m project aimed at improving traffic flow on the A165 and reducing congestion in the town, was due to begin in February next year.

Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said: "The scheme is of critical importance to the regeneration of our area and is one that this Government has previously approved and given its full support to.

"To pull the rug out from under it, without any given reason, is beyond belief.

"Much hard work has gone into the preparation of this vitally important project and we will be pushing hard for an answer as to why Scarborough has been placed in this untenable position."

John Trebble, chief executive of Scarborough council, said he and county council officials would be seeking a meeting with the relevant minister about the decision.

He said: "The Department of Transport's decision strikes at the very heart of Scarborough and its future prospects.

"Without the scheme, there will be no Middle Deepdale housing development or link road, no Community Woodland, and no new hotel and restaurant at the proposed Seamer Road park and ride site."

North Yorkshire County Council is the only authority in Yorkshire and the Humber to have its settlement increased from last year.