RYEDALE’S MP has said the future economic growth of the area depends on immediate action to improve the A64.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, wants more priority and focus given to improving the York to East Coast link to improve economic prosperity across North Yorkshire.

He said: “The time has come for something to be done about the A64. Anyone who has made the often tortuous journey from York to the East Coast will have experienced the frustrations of the notorious blackspots on the A64 where cars, lorries and caravans come to a standstill at all times of the day.

“Improvements to the section of the A64 from Hopgrove towards Malton have been on the wish list of successive MPs for over five decades.

“Something needs to happen now. There should be more investment in the north across the board.

“For every £800 which is spent in the south, just £300 is spent in the north on transport projects. This isn’t good enough and things need to change but first and foremost, we need a solution to the A64.”

Mr Hollinrake said Ryedale’s future economic growth depended on the A64 and improvements would help improve economic prosperity across North Yorkshire.

He added: “It is critical for key businesses such as Rosti McKecknie at Pickering, Severfield and Kingspan at Sherburn, McCain at Cayton, and Karro Foods at Norton, but also our many smaller businesses, farming, tourism and for local residents.”

He has been working to find a solution to the A64 since being elected in 2015, raising questions at Prime Minister’s Questions, meeting Highways England and local authority leaders. He has written letters to former Chancellor George Osborne, and John Cridland, chairman of Transport for the North, the body representing the transport interests of many different stakeholders across the region.

Mr Hollinrake said that while he welcomed the commitment to invest up to £250m from 2020 for vital improvements to the Hopgrove roundabout, he was concerned that if these enhancements do not extend the dual carriageway to meet the existing dualled section at Barton Hill, it would simply relocate the existing pinch point.

“I am working with neighbouring MPs, Robert Goodwill and Julian Sturdy to argue for an extension of the dual carriageway as far as Barton Hill, by the Jinnah restaurant.

“According to initial estimates, a further £50-£100 million will be needed to dual the carriageway from Crambeck to Malton to include an all-movements junction at Musley Bank, thereby also relieving air pollution issues that plague the town.”