CASH could be made available for work to revitalise a Thirsk street which "only lacks tumbleweed".

Hambleton district councillors have agreed in principle to inject £50,000 into a scheme to revamp Long Street, one of the main gateways into the market town.

But the investment will be subject to budget priorities.

At a meeting of the cabinet, however, members reaffirmed their support for the £215,000 scheme to give Long Street a makeover.

Progress on the project has been held up after a bid for regional development agency funding was turned down.

Last year, the district council offered help with consultation and technical work, but did not commit any capital funding.

The cabinet was told that £50,000 from Hambleton would attract matched funding from the Market Town Initiative, which is spearheading the scheme, and would help lever in a further £48,000 from other sources.

The council's planning and environmental services director, Steve Quartermain, said Long Street had long been a cause for concern due to a combination of heavy traffic, poorly maintained buildings, environmental neglect and decay.

"After consultations, there was a strong response in favour of removing ugly buildings and vacant sites and for improving landscape, more effective parking controls, better street lighting and the removal of ugly signs and clutter."

But, he said, was the council prepared to put £50,000 into the scheme?

"In principle, yes, but only if we have the money to spare and subject to resource priorities and the budget-setting process," he said.

Coun David Blades asked: "I am thinking of priorities for Thirsk and would the people say this is one of them?"

Council leader Arthur Barker said: "It should have been identified as a priority and this is why we are considering this. The fact that it is in place is evidence enough."

Coun Bob Baker said: "This has been flagged for some time now and it is a priority."

Coun John Fletcher said: "I would support anything we can do for Long Street, because all that is missing there is tumbleweed."

Mr Quartermain said the money would not come from this year's budget, but added that North Yorkshire County Council wanted to resurface the carriageway at Long Street before next spring. The county did not think this work could be deferred beyond that.

He also said the Market Town Initiative would end in 18 months and the chance to implement an enhancement scheme for one of the main gateways into Thirsk would be lost unless Hambleton committed funding.

Coun Neville Huxtable supported the development, providing it was done the way it had been set out.

"I don't want to see the scheme go backwards and be scaled down. If we are going to do it, let's do it properly," he said.

l Leading article: page 2