PRESSURE is growing for the resurrection of plans for a bypass for the county town of North Yorkshire.

Hambleton District Council is being urged to start talks with the county authority to turn Northallerton's long-awaited dream into reality.

An outer bypass for the town has been a long-standing proposal, and North Yorkshire County Council carried out a feasibility study in 1990.

The scheme, which includes options for routes to both the west and east, was included in the authority's capital programme three years later, and work was to have begun in 1999.

However, the date was put back, and although it remained in the county's highways programme, it has never been given another start date.

But following the Government's recently announced ten-year plan for transport, hopes are high that the Northallerton scheme could get back on track.

The Transport White Paper made specific reference to a proposed target of 50 bypass schemes in rural areas to cut congestion and pollution.

Hambleton planning chief Steve Quartermain said: "The Northallerton bypass is regarded as of particular importance in view of the congestion in the town centre, which is having a significant adverse effect on the quality of life of residents, as well as its attractiveness as a place to shop and visit."

The level of congestion in the town has also been aggravated by the increasingly frequent closure of the level crossings as more freight trains make their way to Middlesbrough and back.

"The resulting queues are already having a significant effect on the day-to-day operation of the businesses of the town and the environment in general," said Mr Quartermain.

With traffic ever growing, and the number of freight trains passing through also expected to increase, the town's congestion problem is expected to get even worse.

"In view of this, it is important that pressure is applied to progress the bypass, particularly given the Government's indication of new investment," said Mr Quartermain.