A windfall of £10,000 that was to have been spent on improvements at a notorious Bedale crossroads, may now be channelled into other projects in the market town.
The cash came from York-based Persimmon Homes in exchange for permission to build new properties on the town's South End. It was hoped it could go some way to making the staggered junction outside the White Bear easier to manoeuvre.
However, although both the district and the county council have examined the possibilities, none are seen as viable.
As a result the cash could be passed from Hambleton's planning purse to highways chiefs at County Hall, who will look instead at ways of slowing traffic on South End, close to where the new Persimmon homes were built.
The White Bear junction improvements were not gong to be easy because widening the road was never a realistic option.
To do so would mean buying properties that overlook the crossroads and then demolishing them - expensive and difficult to achieve because many would be listed.
Experts also say traffic lights would do little to ease the traffic congestion.
North Yorkshire County Council's senior engineer Keith Wilson says: "To allow for each leg to accommodate full turning movements at the junction, any stop lines would have to be set well back from the junction. This increases all red time at every signal stage.
"The Sussex Street and Station Road stages would have to run independently because of the staggered nature of the junction. A pedestrian phase is also a pre-requisite.
"All these factors added together would produce a significantly long cycle time for the junction."
Hambleton District Councils planners vote on Thursday on whether the £10,000 should be passed to the county authority.
If they agree, Bedale Town Council will be invited to take part in consultation on an alternative improvement package for the town's South End
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