A NOTORIOUS A64 bottleneck is set to be eased after the Government cleared the way for a bypass on the road.

Rillington could be free of traffic as early as 2006 when the village will get its long-awaited £6.4 million relief road.

Transport Minister David Jamieson said he had backed the Highways Agency's preferred route for the bypass, near Malton.

The new road will run from Scagglethorpe to Scampston Bridge.

After concern from villagers, the route was amended to the west, removing bends at Rillington Fields.

But the bypass will be single-carriageway, despite calls for the busy coast road to be dualled.

Mr Jamieson's decision was announced yesterday, after he had met a delegation headed by Ryedale MP John Greenway to discuss making the A64 a dual-carriageway along its full stretch.

Mr Jamieson said: "The bypass will significantly improve the environment within the village, particularly during the busy summer holiday period.

"This will result in less noise, improved air quality and a reduced risk of accidents."

Mr Greenway said: "This is excellent news. The chosen route is a good solution because it takes in the best features of the preferred route and provides relief to Rillington Fields."

Norton-on-Derwent councillor Elizabeth Shields, who was part of the delegation, said: "I am sure the people of Rillington will be delighted that at long last they have got what they have been seeking for so many years.

"A Rillington bypass is something I was keen on when I was in Parliament, and I have taken an interest ever since. I am pleased to know that finally we seem to have achieved something, and it is the preferred route that has been chosen."

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "The bypass will now be developed in more detail, with a view to publishing formal proposals later next year.

"If there are outstanding objections to these published proposals, a public inquiry will be held. Work could start in 2006 and will take approximately 18 months."

Highways Agency project manager David Phillips said: "We will be working closely with other agencies, such as English Nature and English Heritage, to ensure that we identify appropriate measures both to protect and enhance the built and natural environment."

Updated: 11:37 Wednesday, July 03, 2002