A CAMPAIGN group has been reformed to monitor major development plans for 1,080 houses amid fears it will not deliver a vital new rail bridge to relieve traffic mayhem.

Brompton and Northallerton Against Green Erosion, BANAGE is concerned that developers involved in the new North Northallerton Development cannot be tied into putting up to £4m into the £12.7m cost of building the new bridge over the east coast rail line.

Hambleton District Council’s executive director for planning Mick Jewitt admitted the scheme was “time critical”, but insisted all the way along they had made it clear they wanted to see the road and bridge built in the early stages of the development.

He added: "Our partners are all working hard to try and make it happen, we want to see the development succeed and the link road is an integral part of that.

“Everybody’s working hard to try and make it happen, but I can’t say hand on heart it is definitely going to happen - we rely on other people to try and ensure it will.”

BANAGE was set up in 2008 when the scheme was originally proposed in the local development plan. Spokesman Tony Webster said campaigners are concerned about the time factor because £6m, due to be put towards the bridge by the Local Enterprise Partnership, will have to be spent by spring 2017.

“We just fear time will run out, the developers could build 500 houses on the existing planning allocation without the need to contribute £4m towards the railway bridge", he said. "Without the railway bridge the whole scheme is a nonsense for the town."

Hambleton Council is due to consider the planning application next month.