CAMPAIGNERS for a bypass around a North Yorkshire village have raised fears that the scheme may have been scuppered.

Plans to build a road around Rillington, near Malton - which is choked with traffic travelling to and from Scarborough - were put forward earlier this year following a public consultation. But local politicians and villagers fear that because plans for the scheme have not developed any further, the scheme is either on hold or has been scrapped.

Earlier this year, three possible options for a bypass around Rillington were put forward at a public display. But since then, villagers have heard nothing further about the project.

Plans for the A64 are to be included in the draft plan of the Highways Agency's route management strategy, which is set for release later this year and which aims to set out a policy for the road for the coming decade.

But Ryedale MP John Greenway said there was a very real concern that the bypass issue was being delayed.

"This has happened before, which is why people are concerned," he said.

"A few years ago, there was talk about a bypass through the village and it was going to go ahead.

"The scheme was then replaced by a bigger one which was subsequently cancelled - if they had stuck to the original one then it could well have been built by now."

The MP is so concerned about the future of the bypass that he has written to Government minister David Jamieson.

County councillor for Rillington Murray Naylor said he was hoping the issue would be included in the route management strategy.

"I just hope that whatever is said, it will give those living in and around Rillington, in particular, some indication as to what the future might hold for them," he added.

Resident David Hughes said he was concerned the issue had been pushed to the sidelines.

"A proposal has been on the table for months but we're still waiting for a decision - have they forgotten?" he said.

"If December is the season of goodwill, perhaps we'll get a response before the end of the year."

A spokesperson from the Highways Agency said: "We are currently undertaking a route management strategy for the road which looks at what it does now, and then examines what we need it to do in the future.

"Feedback from the public will help us finalise the strategy, which will define our vision for the A64 over the next ten years."

Updated: 11:47 Thursday, November 29, 2001