MOTORISTS have thrown their support behind The Press’ Dual Them! campaign, telling of their frustration at sitting in queues of traffic on the A64 and York Outer Ring Road.

The campaign petition calls for both the ring road and A64 east of York to be turned into full dual carriageways.

It supports the ‘A64 growth partnership’ of local authorities, MPs and business organisations, launched last week, which is pressing for dualling of the road between York and Malton. The petition also calls for the Government to agree to fund a prospective York council bid to dual the ring road.

One signatory, Darren Sage of York, wrote: “For far too long, York’s ring road, which should have been dualled from the start, has become a millstone around its neck - either from people who can’t get around the A1237 or are trying to get to the East Coast, thus clogging the A64.

“Dualling would help free up access to Clifton Moor, Monks Cross and create opportunities as well as to increase traffic flow to Malton, Scarborough and the East Coast, also creating better chances there.”

Jenny Baumforth, of Scarborough, said: “My family and friends use these roads regularly, and most of the time we sit in queues for hours.

“The ring road has always been a problem and should have been dual carriageway from the start. The A64 is a nightmare at all times of day - weekdays and weekends.”

Paul Bartlett, of York, said that when the FERA laboratories moved to Sand Hutton, the plans had shown a dual carriageway with traffic controls on the A64 junction. “Nothing happened, and the junction is very dangerous for road users,” he said, adding that the Coastliner buses would not turn onto the FERA site because it was too dangerous a manoeuvre, and so pedestrians had to make a very dangerous crossing of the road to get to and from bus stops.

Richard Winch, of Burnholme, York, said the roads were the ‘new M25 car park, adding:

“At certain times of day it does not move.”

To sign the petition, go to https://www.change.org/p/the-department-for-transport-dual-them-dual-the-a64-and-york-outer-ring-road-b1c3d278-089a-4d28-8aab-ae59b58f0e7b