A Government transport minister is expected to be invited to York to explain why the Rail Authority has reneged on a promise to provide more cash for railway stations at Haxby and Strensall in York.

Liberal Democrat councillors on City of York Council have put forward a motion condemning the decision by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to scrap its promise of assistance for the York stations.

Civic leaders had hoped to reopen the additional suburban rail halts in 2005 as part of a complex city-wide raft of schemes aimed at cutting car use and congestion in the city.

But the announcement by the SRA last month that it would withdraw its offer of assistance was the latest in a series of blows for the ambitious project.

Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Ann Reid has asked York's Labour-controlled council executive to invite the Minister for Transport, John Spellar, to York to explain the disappointing decision.

In a motion to be tabled at Thursday's full council, she said: "Council condemns the decision of the SRA to withdraw its offer of assistance in providing additional rail halts in the York area.

"Council places on record its dismay at the ineffective transport policies of the present government and in particular the continued lack of stable and effective transport policies for rail-based systems."

Meanwhile, councillors will also be asked to call on council chief executive David Atkinson to write to the Government expressing concern at the use of RAF Fylingdales on the North York Moors as part of the U.S. Son Of Star Wars project. Coun Andrew Waller, proposing the motion, said: "The British Government has attempted to rush this though with minimal public consultation, in the face of massive public opposition."

Updated: 10:54 Tuesday, February 18, 2003