IMPROVEMENTS to the A59 near Skipton could go ahead if a last minute bid for Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) money is a success.

Work to the junctions at Broughton and Gargrave is one of four possible projects being submitted by Craven District Council to the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP's Local Growth Deal Fund.

The council has also asked made a bid for funding to allow it to progress housing proposals at Horse Close, Skipton, and employment potential at Skipton Rock Quarry, Embsay.

Also put forward is a bid for money to help with the redevelopment of the council's Engine Shed Lane depot, following the relocation of the waste management team, and the further transformation of Skipton Town Hall into a cultural hub.

Cllr Simon Myers told last week's Policy Committee meeting that officers had acted quickly to submit bids for money before the deadline of the end of July.

He explained the money had become available at short notice because of an underspend predicted for 2018/2019 which could be as high as £20 million.

"The public sector does not like to see an underspend, lets see if we can get some of it, " he told the committee.

A previous bid for improvements to the A59 near Skipton by North Yorkshire County Council and Craven Council to the National Productivity Infrastructure Fund was not successful, but the councils were encouraged to submit another bid to the growth deal fund.

Craven Council has already been in talks with Tarmac operators of Skipton Rock Quarry, Harrogate Road, about new employment land potential at the site.

Councillors heard Craven had been successful in two previous bids for growth deal money, with £1.2 million for the Skipton Flood Alleviation Scheme, and £4.6 million for the Skipton Housing and Employment growth project at Wyvern Park.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan said he was pleased to see the council had been able to submit four bids under such short notice and thought it would be a good idea to have others waiting to go.