AN initiative to tempt tourists off the A1 and into the Yorkshire Dales is still languishing with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, tourism officials have warned.

They fear it could be another six months before publication of a government document which it is hoped will clear the way for signs to be placed on the A1.

Richmondshire District Council has been battling for three years to put brown and white tourist signs near the A684 junction at Leeming Bar to point the way to the dales.

Individual signs directing visitors to Swaledale and Wensleydale would then be installed at the entrances to each dale.

Council tourism officer Pam Whittaker told the district business forum that the project was in abeyance until the department of transport published a strategy on the criteria for installing such signs. She said this could take up to six months.

In the meantime, draft proposals were drawn up and the likely cost for all the signs was just over £15,200. However, this did not include provision of posts or extra expense incurred if gas or electricity lines had to be diverted during installation.

Richmondshire district council has earmarked £10,000 towards the scheme from this year's budget.

The forum, which met in Richmond on Monday, agreed that Mrs Whittaker should take the issue to next week's meeting of the Yorkshire dales joint promotions initiative, to see if a joint approach could be taken.