Lib Dem dismay at A64 U-Turn

York Liberal Democrat Councillors have expressed dismay at the news that York & North Yorkshire Labour Mayor David Skaith has u-turned on support for dualling stretches of the A64 between York and Malton. 

In an interview with BBC Radio York, Mayor David Skaith said:

“My priority is improving the bus, rail and active travel offer. Do that first, then you're left with what you need to do with the road.”

He added: “If the money's there for the road, we're not going to say no to it. But we have to look at the best use of the money available to move people sustainably - and that's rail or bus.”

City of York Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Councillor Stephen Fenton said:

“Liberal Democrats expressed dismay when the previous Conservative Government announced that the planned dualling of the A64 between Hopgrove and Barton le Willows won’t start until 2030 at the earliest. The congestion that regularly clogs up the A64 has a huge impact on local residents and businesses and is holding back the local economy. For all the Tory talk about ‘levelling up’ the north, the reality is that we were being starved of much-needed infrastructure investment by the previous Government. Now history seems to be repeating itself with a Labour Government and Labour Mayor.

“This is not a choice between investing in critical road links and investing in public transport and active travel – both are necessary. And if Mayor Skaith is serious about investing in rail he should secure the funding for Haxby Station which the Labour Government took away.

“Liberal Democrats in York and North Yorkshire will continue to lobby Labour locally and nationally to make good on their promises to our area, including the dualling of the York Outer Ring Road.”