A £10,000 windfall, which was to have been spent on improvements at a notorious Bedale crossroads, may be channelled into different projects in the town.

The cash came from York builder Persimmon Homes in exchange for permission to build properties at the south end of the town.

It was hoped it could go some way to making the staggered junction outside the White Bear easier for cars to negotiate.

However, although Hambleton District and North Yorkshire County councils have examined traffic schemes, 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 in the town's south end, close to where the Persimmon homes were built.

The White Bear junction improvements were difficult because widening the road was never a realistic option.

To do so would mean buying properties which overlook the crossroads and demolishing them, which was viewed as expensive and difficult to achieve as many are listed buildings.

Experts also concluded that traffic lights would do little to ease traffic congestion.

North Yorkshire County Council's senior engineer Keith Wilson said: "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."

He said all these factors added together would produce a significantly long cycle time for the junction.

As the junction was unlikely to exceed its present capacity there was little point in pursuing the traffic signal option.

Hambleton district councillors vote next Thursday to determine 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 southern area of the town.