Work could start within weeks on a multi-million project to transform public areas around Selby railway station.
North Yorkshire Council chiefs have given the go-ahead for work to progress on the £39.1m Selby and Skipton Station Gateway schemes.
The projects will see upgraded facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and improvements to surrounding public areas including better links to the town centres.
Councillors took the decision despite concerns that the schemes had been scaled down since they were first presented to the public in 2019.
It has also emerged that the Selby project could cost up to £2m more than expected, with councillors agreeing to use money from the authority’s reserves if necessary.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transportation, told councillors: “We expect to have spades in the ground in a matter of weeks, Skipton in March and Selby in June, which is very positive news.”
The authority has been awarded more than £38m in funding from the Transforming Cities Fund programme for projects in three town centres.
No decision was taken on the £12m Harrogate Station Gateway Scheme however amid a legal challenge from local business owners who have formed the Get Away campaign to fight the plans for the town.
Councillors gave authority for officers to enter into construction contracts and accept grants for the Selby and Skipton schemes.
Members voted to progress the work despite concerns that the projects had been reduced since they were first revealed and a budget deficit of up to £2m for the Selby project due to rising costs.
Selby councillor Mark Crane, executive member for open to business, added: “The scheme now in Selby is a long way away from what we were originally promised and some of the bigger items and more important items have gone from it unfortunately.”
Cllr Duncan said the work agreed so far was just the first phase of the programme, with the hope of a second phase of work taking place in the future when funding allowed.