COUNCILLORS have been accused of fudging a controversial decision after they agreed to a compromise over long-running traffic problems at a busy junction in Bedale.

The move, by the Hambleton committee of North Yorkshire County Council, coincides with a petition by residents, who said the installation of traffic lights at the staggered junction of Bridge Street, Market Place, Sussex Street and South End would turn a nearby street into a rat run for motorists.

Committee members, who received a study by consultants, declined to approve in principle the preferred option of realigning the road and installing permanent lights. The cost of the scheme has been estimated at £200,000.

It was agreed instead to explore an option to realign the road, giving priority to the main A684, and to investigate a trial with temporary lights. Another report is expected to be presented at the next committee meeting on November 26.

Committee member and county council leader John Weighell, who represents Bedale, has received a 30-name petition from residents who fear queues caused by lights will force more traffic into Emgate, which narrows at the end.

Some residents of South End said lights would increase noise and exhaust pollution and reduce parking spaces.

Councillor Weighell said: "Everyone recognises there is a huge problem that has got to be solved, but there is disagreement on how it should be solved, apart from a relief road for Bedale.

"Money is available if a solution can be found and work can be done quite quickly, but it is no good spending £200,000 on a solution that does not work.

"I am not satisfied that lights would reduce overall congestion.

"Although they would reduce congestion coming in from Aiskew, they would cause extra hold-ups in the other three directions."

Committee member Coun Arthur Barker said: "Temporary lights are not the same as permanent lights programmed to give priority to heavy traffic. I wonder whether temporary lights would give a fair assessment."

Coun Malcolm Young, Bedale's Mayor, said: "It is just fudging. I do not support realigning the road because it cannot be done sufficiently to allow articulated lorries to take the corner with any degree of safety.

"I do not see any harm in temporary lights to see how it goes, but programmed lights work completely differently.

"Whatever you do there, it is only going to cause more problems than it solves. The only solution is a relief road.