A SERIES of highways schemes in North Yorkshire have been given a provisional go-ahead and could now be carried out over the next eight years.

However, three long-awaited bypass schemes have been dropped from the schedule because of fears that funding would not be forthcoming.

The programme of work has won approval from the county council's executive, but still has to be ratified by the full council when it meets next month. It will then be submitted to the Government.

Because of criticism by the Government of last year's bid for cash the programme has been slimmed down.

Bypass schemes on the A661 at Spofforth, near Harrogate, on the A171 at Burneston and Cloughton, near Scarborough, and on the A19 at Thormanby, near Thirsk, have been dropped because of the unlikelihood of Government funding.

However, those approved include a package of improvements to the A165 south of Scarborough, linked to congestion-busting park-and-ride proposals.

In addition, the programme includes bypasses for Reighton on the A165 near Scarborough, for Killinghall on the A61 near Harrogate, for Shipton-by-Beningbrough on the A19 near York and for Burn on the A19, near Selby.

The Scarborough Integrated Transport package is also included, but that has already received provisional approval by the Government.

The county's executive member for environmental services, Peter Sowray, said: "There are many worthwhile bypass schemes in the county which would deliver essential environmental and social benefits to communities.

"But difficult decisions have had to be made about which projects can be delivered by 2010."

He said that because of the limited funding available nationally from the Government, they wanted to put forward the projects which were most likely to be looked on favourably.

He said: "We know there will be a number of communities across North Yorkshire which will be disappointed with what is being proposed - but we have to be realistic in our approach."