PLANS for a bypass to help three communities facing mounting traffic pressures are in jeopardy due to lack of funding, according to a council leader.

The three-mile road would divert traffic on the A684 from Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar, but further work has been suspended because it is not classified as a priority for regional funding from the Department for Transport.

It is estimated the road would remove up to 60 per cent of traffic from the three communities, but the cost has risen to £26m during the 13 years it has been on the drawing board at North Yorkshire County Council.

The delay occurred because the council wanted the bypass to run through a new interchange when the A1 between Dishforth and Barton is upgraded to three-lanes - plans which were shelved in 1996, but revived six years later.

The council has tried to convince transport ministers that it would be more cost-effective to build the motorway and the bypass at the same time.

The county council leader, Councillor John Weighell, sounded a warning as officers prepare a report recommending introduction of traffic lights at the junction of Bridge Street, Sussex Street, Market Place and South End, in Bedale.

The Bedale councillor said: "The bypass is not dead, but it is struggling for any kind of life. There is no point in building up people's expectations and then dropping them. The only thing keeping it alive is the motorway. It would be so sensible to do both projects at the same time."

He blamed Department for Transport changes that directed funding for road schemes towards cities where a stronger economic case could be made.

Ian Watkins is among residents who oppose lights at the Bedale junction because it is feared they would cause noise and pollution, reduce parking and lead to side streets being used as rat-runs.

He said: "The bypass may now be all but shelved, but introducing traffic lights will not solve the problems that a bypass would have resolved."