A PUBLIC inquiry into plans for a £42m bypass which would provide a new gateway into the Yorkshire Dales has been told just three minutes will be shaved off waiting times through Bedale.

The 3.3 mile long road will bypass Leeming Bar, Aiskew and Bedale taking the main A684 east through open countryside to rejoin the road just north of the town near the golf club.

The four day inquiry is one of the final hurdles facing the scheme and is being held to consider details of compulsory purchase orders and side road orders. Planning permission has already been agreed.

Work on site is due to start in October 2014.

Inquiry Inspector Ian Jenkins was told there is a compelling public interest in the road being public - it was supported by 93 per cent of the population in a consultation in 2009.

Guy Williams for North Yorkshire County Council said the road currently carries 14,500 vehicles a day, and around six per cent of the traffic is HGVs.

Forecasts for 2031 claim traffic will rise by 61 per cent if nothing is done, with delays estimated to become four and a half minutes at the White Bear junction in Bedale, three minutes at the Market Cross and 48 seconds at Leeming Lane in Leeming Bar.

Mr Williams added: “Compared to the do minimum scenario, the scheme is predicted to reduce traffic on the existing A684 by 60 per cent through Aiskew and 53 per cent through Leeming Bar, diverting over 12,000 daily movements from Aiskew.

"This will bring benefit through improved network speeds and fewer delays, but also by reducing traffic flows through the settlements. As an example peak hour delays at the A684/B6285 (White Bear) junction in Bedale will reduce by three minutes.”

The Department for Transport is putting up £35.9m into the scheme, with the county council paying the rest. There were nine objections, with calls from the owners of Sand Hill Farm which is cut in two by the road for an underpass or an overpass on safety grounds.

Inspector Ian Jenkins said he will make recommendations to the Secretary of State for Transport.