HOPES of dualling York’s outer ring road have been boosted after £295,000 was set aside to pay for a feasibility study.

The study, agreed yesterday by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, will ‘identify and evaluate options for upgrading the A1237 between the A64 at Askham Bar and A64 at Hopgrove Roundabout to a dual carriageway.’

An authority spokesman said converting the road into a dual carriageway was considered crucial to City of York Council’s Local Plan.

“It will help achieve the city’s future housing and employment growth aspirations as well as boosting journey times for Outer Ring Road users,” he said.

“At the recent Investment Committee, members supported the recommendation of £295,000 to complete the scheme’s required evidence base, modelling and assessment.”

York council deputy leader Keith Aspden said he was pleased to ensure the capital spending report was approved, which included the £295,000 for the feasibility study.

The Lib Dem councillor said: “We all know how frustrating it is to be stuck on the ring road during peak times and I know that residents and businesses across the city will welcome this news.

“I am also aware that the feasibility study is just the first step on a long road and the Liberal Democrats remain committed to lobbying the Government to make sure York receives its fair share of funding given the inequality of infrastructure investment compared to London and the South East.”

The Press launched its Dual Them! campaign last month, calling for both the ring road and the A64 east of York to be turned into full dual carriageways to end the misery of congestion and traffic jams which routinely blight motorists and bus passengers’ journeys, while also damaging the economy.

It called for the Government to fund the dualling of the ring road from its new ‘Major Road Network’ pot of money, which is open to bids from local authorities such as City of York Council to tackle congestion.

It also threw our support behind the ‘A64 Growth Partnership’, launched by local councils, MPs, businesses and trade organisations with the aim of pressing for dualling between York’s Hopgrove roundabout and Malton.

The campaign won backing from local councillors, York Outer MP Julian Sturdy and Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake, and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership.

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