TRANSPORT chiefs are being urged to take action after an independent study put forward a series of plans to cut traffic congestion in a market town.

A report backed by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has called for multi-million pound schemes to tackle traffic problems, which have plagued North-allerton for the past four years.

One of the most viable options is said to be a bridge over the railway line at the Low Gates level crossing, which is closed for 20 minutes every hour, causing congestion and pollution.

A new bridge would carry a second road over the railway, but the cost is likely to be up to £3m and the study claims there would be several land ownership problems at North End.

Ambitious plans have also been suggested to reduce the congestion in Northallerton with the development of new railway infrastructure.

A proposed scheme would relocate the Northallerton to Stockton railway line around the top of the town - avoiding five level crossings, including three in the centre of town at Low Gates, Boroughbridge Road and Romanby.

But the report warned: "The new rail infrastructure would require purchasing considerable amounts of land to the north of the industrial zone and agricultural land, until it reaches the existing track at Brompton. This will escalate costs and is more than likely to be met with strong opposition from local landowners."

The report is based on the findings of a six-week study undertaken by postgraduate town planning students at the University of Newcastle.

Kerry Pulleyn, of North Yorkshire CPRE, said the findings would be presented to local authorities.

"We want to get a proper discussion going. Our perspective is that we are concerned about the long-term effect on the vibrancy of the town centre and the businesses that operate there," she said.

Other proposals included a £10m bypass, with students examining five different routes, but such a scheme would only be likely to remove 30 per cent of through traffic from the centre of Northallerton.