YORK'S new Labour MP has accused Conservative council bosses of "bottling it" by backing away from a £135,000 congestion probe.

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, yesterday used her first question in the House of Commons to ask for a debate on congestion and health, the environment and transport, after revelations that City of York Council's new Conservative transport boss Ian Gillies wanted to halt plans for a special commission to look at the problem.

Ms Maskell later said that Cllr Gillies has a "once in a generation" chance to look at congestion strategically and with a long term view, but had "bottled it".

The commission was first mooted by the former Labour council administration after the end of the cancelled Lendal Bridge closure.

The MP said: "It's such a serious issue, not just in York but in so many of our cities.

"Instead of taking a piecemeal approach I think we need to take a long term view"

An investment of £135,000 to have experts give their opinion on a major infrastructure project would be worthwhile, she added.

The new Conservative leader of the council, Chris Steward, put her comments down to party politics, adding, "It is no surprise to see a Labour politician, whose party nationally and locally have left us dealing with record debts, not understand why spending vast money on £500 a day consultants is likely to be a worse way forward than engaging local people in York who know and understand the issues."

Meanwhile, York's Green councillors have called for an alternative commission and a public debate on congestion in York with talks, conferences, and media coverage to encourage people to take part in the discussions and come up with solutions.

Leader Cllr Andy D'Agorne said; "The problem isn't going to go away by ignoring the issue. We need an approach which combines expert advice on what is possible with genuine involvement by residents.'

"We will be happy to see something that isn't called a Congestion Commission and happy if it cost less – as long as something significant happens – a few piecemeal measures here and there and a few more electric charging points won't be enough."

Their proposals have already received some backing from council bosses, with Cllr Gilles saying: "On transport I have already discussed a number of options with officers and it will be discussed when the executive first meets informally. 

"At first glance the Green proposals echo much of what I and the Conservative group have been saying that we need to deal with congestion and air pollution, we already have many of the potential solutions detailed and it is a case of working on these rather than paying fortunes to be told what we already know."