'Just Dual It!' - Liberal Democrats launch petition to dual the York Outer Ring Road

York's Liberal Democrats have launched a petition calling on the UK Labour Government, York & North Yorkshire’s Labour Mayor, York Outer’s Labour MP and York’s Labour-run Council to urgently rethink plans to not dual sections of the A1237, and to honour their previous promises to fund the dualling of the ring-road in full with 600 residents already signing the petition in the first 24 hours.

The petition is online at www.bit.ly/justdualit

In the last few days, Liberal Democrats uncovered the shocking plans by York’s Labour Council bosses to scrap the dualling of the Outer Ring Road.

The scheme to dual the ring road has been in the works for many years, with the last Lib Dem administration of York Council bringing forward a shovel-ready scheme and a planning application, which was approved in 2024.

Every significant political party in York has pledged support for the dualling of the ring road, including our Labour Mayor David Skaith: “Developing the ring road will play a key role”, Labour MP Luke Charters “I believe we must support the plans and dual the ring road” and Labour York Council Transport Boss, Councillor Pete Kilbane: "Our plan [is] to dual sections of the outer ring road as soon as possible”.

However, tucked away in a report on the Council’s capital budget for 2025/26 are comments that:

“…CYC is looking to potentially reduce the scope of the works to accord with the available funding…the likely reduction in scope will involve sections of the dualling scheme being omitted and focus being turned to upgrade roundabouts and improvements to active travel measures.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Haxby & Wigginton, Andrew Hollyer, said:

“This is a huge betrayal of the thousands of residents in the north of York that endure constant delays to their journeys as a result of the grid-lock currently experienced on the outer ring road.

“We are asking residents to back our call for the UK Government, York & North Yorkshire’s Labour Mayor, York Outer’s Labour MP and York’s Labour-run Council to urgently rethink plans to not dual the A1237. They need to live up to their previous promises and fund the dualling of the ring-road in full.

“If necessary, the York & North Yorkshire Mayor should use some of the £379m received following the cancellation of HS2 to fill any funding gap.”

Residents can sign the petition at www.bit.ly/justdualit