PLANS have been drawn up for a £5.5 million new junction to ease traffic and pollution in Malton and Norton.

North Yorkshire County Council has formally applied to construct a new slip road and two roundabouts at the A64 Brambling Fields junction with the B1248 Scarborough Road.

The interchange scheme aims to rid Malton of the traffic queues and congestion which have troubled its centre and to help combat pollution caused by traffic at Butcher Corner.

A public consultation document about the development says the work is designed to provide an alternative route into Norton for traffic travelling eastbound on the A64, to avoid it needing to travel through Malton.

It added: “It also provides an alternative route for local traffic to travel between Malton and Norton without the need to cross the level crossing and Butcher Corner.”

The Brambling Fields interchange improvement is being funded by the Highways Agency, North Yorkshire Country Council and Ryedale District Council. If approval is granted, a nine-month construction period could start in late 2011 or early 2012.

The plans are part of a scheme which includes plans to improve Castlegate, Railway Street, Saville Street and Wells Street. Proposals have also been put forward to make parts of Malton’s Market Place traffic-free.

Some Malton councillors have warned that the cost of the Brambling Fields work is unnecessary and has steeply escalated in cost.

In March residents were asked to give their views on plans to shape the future of Malton and Norton’s road system.

Anyone who wishes to make comments about the application has until June 22 to do so.

Further information about the application is online at www.northyorks.gov.uk or in Ryedale House in Malton.