A CALL has been made for a meeting to end deadlock between two neighbouring councils over proposals for an east Middlesbrough bypass.

Councillor Ken Walker, lead-er of Middlesbrough Borough Council, has written to his opposite number, Councillor Dav-id Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

In his letter, Coun Walker said that "our joint interest in finding the best way forward to deal with traffic congestion both now and in the future" would be best served by face-to-face talks.

Middlesbrough supports the idea of a bypass, but Coun Walsh has called for a rethink in the light of a study into a light rail transport (LRT) system.

Coun Walker said the two ideas need not be mutually exclusive of one another.

He said: "We certainly believe a new bypass would be warmly welcomed not just by Middlesbrough residents, but the very many people who live in the Redcar and Cleveland area and travel into the centre of the conurbation to work, and are equally affected by the current traffic hold-ups which can occur.

"There is also a question of timing. I believe that, if we can reach agreement over the bypass, we can make an early bid to the Government for funding, whereas, with the best will in the world, we have to recognise that the LRT study is at a relatively early stage, and it is likely to be some time before we are in a position to prepare a scheme which can turn ambitions into reality.''

Coun Walsh has agreed that a joint meeting should go ahead but insisted: "We want to compare and contrast the LRT against any highway scheme, otherwise it would not be a valid exercise.

"We can not make any decision until the (LRT) feasibility study has been undertaken. It would be like going into a restaurant and saying 'I would like to try the beef curry, but in the meantime I will try the fish course'.''