Fresh efforts are being made to bring a bypass to the busy village of Stamford Bridge, near York.

The parish council is being asked to consider the issue once more after a serious road crash when a lorry demolished a wall and narrowly missed a house, and after the recent floods crisis which affected the A166 road which cuts through Stamford Bridge.

Coun Hilary Saynor, the parish authority chairman and member for the area on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said the issue of a bypass was first raised more than 60 years ago.

The biggest problem is the single-carriageway bridge over the River Derwent, the waterway which caused the extensive floods which hit Stamford Bridge last year.

But while some residents are anxious to see a bypass built, traders are opposed, she said.

"We are a very well-served village and the shopkeepers are adamant in their opposition because they rely on passing trade coming through."

Stamford Bridge, internationally famous for its battle of centuries ago, has two newsagents, a butcher, haberdasher, chemist, post office, bank, take-aways, two hairdressers, an electrical store, a supermarket, and until recently a bakery.

They fear a bypass would have a dramatic effect on their trade because the 3,500 population would not be able to sustain them.

But Coun Saynor, who has taken the bypass issue up with deputy premier and Transport Secretary John Prescott, said there was concern that motorists who often had long waits at traffic lights on the bridge over the river, became frustrated.

She said there had been fatal accidents on the outskirts of Stamford Bridge and it was felt that motorists took risks after being delayed by the traffic congestion. "On a busy weekend motorists can have a wait of up to an hour to cross the bridge," she said.

The bypass issue was aggravated because it would involve two local authority areas - East Riding and North Yorkshire.

David Rennie, head of transport services for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said there were no plans to build a bypass, although a transport study was due to be carried out in the Stamford Bridge area within the next year or two.

"However, I doubt whether it will have a significant rating," he warned.

The Environment Agency has plans to raise the level of the road, which could improve the position.

A new road would cost several millions of pounds, added Mr Rennie.

"There will be a forum to look at the issue but we have to be realistic."

Updated: 11:23 Monday, April 30, 2001