A RYEDALE road has been earmarked for a £475,000 upgrade.

The scheme planned for Ings Lane in Kirkbymoorside is part of £5.1m allocated to North Yorkshire by the Government to “support the county’s economic growth”.

The Ings Lane upgrade will include alterations to the roundabout with the A170 to allow easier HGV turning movements, and “localised widening, strengthening and edge reinforcement” on Ings Lane itself.

A county council spokesman said the aim of the work is to “remove barriers to growth and unlock job creation opportunities for two advanced engineering employers”.

One of those employers is Marshall Advanced Composites.

Dougie Hunter, their managing director, said: “We welcome improvements to the local infrastructure that supports business growth, as we continue to grow our business and support our customers with innovative products delivered on time and to cost.”

The announcement has also been welcomed in the town.

Angus Ashworth, the mayor of Kirkbymoorside, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Kirkbymoorside is going to benefit from this, and we look forward to seeing the final plans.

“Quite often it feels like Kirkbymoorside doesn’t quite get the same attention as elsewhere in Ryedale, so any improvement in the infrastructure is a good thing.”

The money is coming from the Government’s National Productivity Investment Fund, a pot of £185m to improve road networks and public transport announced in the Chancellor’s autumn statement last year.

In January, the Department for Transport allocated the funding, including £5.1m for North Yorkshire.

The money must be spent on

transport schemes in the county during the coming financial year; 2017/18.

These schemes must be in addition to any other highways maintenance or works planned during the year and should be designed to boost productivity, transport, digital communications, research and development or housing.

Barrie Mason, assistant director of Highways and Transportation at the council, said: “As well as looking at our own highways priorities, we consulted colleagues in district and borough councils.

“The draft programme compiled following this process will meet the Government’s requirements to ease congestion and upgrade important roads, unlock job creation opportunities and enable the delivery of vital housing development.”

Elsewhere, the improvements announced by the county council include a package of works costing up to £2m to improve Scarborough’s roads.