Tear ahead to town (5)
I believe the answer is:
ripon
'town' is the definition.
(I have seen 'northern town' mean 'ripon' so perhaps 'town' could also mean 'ripon')
'tear ahead' is the wordplay.
'tear' becomes 'rip' (synonyms).
'ahead' becomes 'on' (synonyms).
'rip'+'on'='RIPON'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ripon that I've seen before include "minster" , "see" , "northern town" , "Town in N. Yorkshire" , "North Yorkshire cathedral city" .)