SCARBOROUGH'S summertime holiday traffic problems are set to get a boost with the approval of a scheme to build a 630-space park and ride area on the outskirts of the town, despite fears that it could cause flooding problems and traffic congestion on other roads.

North Yorkshire County Council's planning and regulatory committee is being recommended to approve the scheme, earmarked for Seamer Road alongside the A64 York to Scarborough road, when it meets this week.

In a report to the committee, Stephen Smales, assistant director of planning and countryside services, says the site, covering 3.4 hectares, is to be

welcomed because "it is seen as essential to the success of Scarborough council's £27m integrated transport strategy."

He says that Yorkshire Water believes any potential flooding problems can be solved by draining away surface water from the site.

Alongside the park and ride will be a Travel Inn and restaurant.

Twenty-one conditions are being proposed for the approval, including ascertaining whether part of a nearby site, a former refuse tip, has any landfill gas.

The site is currently an area of rough grazing alongside Deans Garden centre.

A traffic signal-controlled junction is to be built in Seamer Road.

Opposition to the scheme has come from Irton Parish Council, which says the park will have an adverse impact on traffic flows in adjoining roads. The Highways Agency has also objected, on the, regarding the impact of traffic on the A64 trunk road.

The Government Office for Yorkshire, North Yorkshire Police, the county Heritage Unit and English Nature have each said they have no objections to the scheme.

Mr Smales said the site had been chosen because it would cater for traffic heading to Scarborough from the south and the west.

"It has been through a rigorous process of examination," he added.

Extensive landscape planting is to be carried out.

Updated: 14:40 Wednesday, June 09, 2004