FRUSTRATION over the future of the A64 has continued after York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith admitted he does not expect funding for full dualling between York and Scarborough to materialise “any time soon”.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) this week, Mr Skaith said he would continue pressing ministers for improvements to the route but warned the scale of investment required made progress difficult.
He said: “I will continue to press the need for it, but I don’t see £500 million coming anytime soon.
“We are working with National Highways as well and looking at what other options there are.
“We’re still working with Government to say it is important, but it’s at least a £500 million project. No one’s got £500 million. Certainly I don’t have.”
The Hopgrove Junction on the A64. Photo: Google.
The comments came after four North Yorkshire MPs urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritise dualling more of the route, describing the road as a “vital economic artery” connecting York, Malton, Scarborough and the Yorkshire coast.
The A64 has been the subject of improvement campaigns for decades, with supporters arguing congestion, delays and safety concerns continue to hamper economic growth and investment along the route.
Those concerns were echoed this week at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee on Wednesday, where councillors argued that improvements to public transport alone would not solve the coast’s connectivity problems.
Cllr Derek Bastiman said: “It’s all right having a good bus service and everything else, but unless the A64 is improved, it must continue to work.”
He later told the mayor: “I know you get sick of me banging on about it, but I won’t stop banging on it.”
Read more
Cllr Phil Trumper also highlighted wider transport challenges facing residents on the coast.
He said: “If you live in Whitby and you haven’t got a car, it’s quite difficult to commute anywhere, to find employment.”
Referring to public transport links, he added: “The bus isn’t sustainable because it takes nearly three hours to get from Whitby to York on a bus.”
The mayor acknowledged transport issues were particularly acute in coastal communities.
He said: “This is an issue for all people right across the region, particularly on our coastal areas.”
Readers also expressed frustration following publication of the mayor’s comments.
One commenter wrote: “Well, it will only get more expensive the longer you leave it.”
Another added: “Imagine if they hadn’t wasted so much money on HS2. So many roads could’ve been improved.”
Other readers argued investment continued to favour projects elsewhere in the country rather than transport links serving the Yorkshire coast.