THE campaign to get improvements to the junctions at each end of the Malton by-pass has taken a big step forward with the setting up of an action group.

Leading members and officials of Ryedale District Council, Malton and Norton Partnership, the town councils and the Fitzwilliam Estate, held their first meeting last week to mastermind the campaign.

Julian Rudd, RDC's forward planning officer, said the move followed a decision by the district council earlier this year to press for early action by the Highways Agency and to win support of the Department of Transport through Ryedale MP John Greenway.

Now the group of ten is to seek the backing of local businesses and organisations to underline the importance of the improvement work which could also include a slip road being built to the Malton to Helmsley road, said Mr Rudd, in addition to improvements at Musley Bank and Brambling Fields on the A64.

In the past, the suggested solutions for each junctions has been the construction of roundabouts.

"It was a very encouraging meeting with some positive discussions" said Mr Rudd.