The long-awaited Selby bypass was given the go-ahead today by the new Transport Minister, John Reid.

The £28 million project was among the approved schemes in the Government's new roads programme announced by Mr Reid in the House of Commons.

In a statement to the House he said the bypass would 'provide a safer and healthier environment in the town and relieve congestion'.

The whole of Selby was today celebrating the historic decision, which marks the end of a hard-fought campaign that started way back in 1926.

The town's MP, John Grogan, said: "This is a momentous day for Selby and its residents.

"It's as big a decision as the Selby coalfield announcement in 1974, and one of the town's most significant events since the war.

"Today's announcement is the culmination of a 70-year campaign, and marks the beginning of a bright new future for Selby. Our task now is to make the most of it."

Mr Grogan said the bypass would have tremendous economic as well as environmental benefits, making the town a much better prospect for inward investment.

He added: "I will be contacting former MP Michael Alison and leading campaigner Ted Batty as soon as I can to thank them for their efforts in securing this decision."

Mr Reid told the Commons that the Government had selected 37 schemes in its targeted programme of improvement, all of which could be started withing seven years.

Selby District Council leader Geoff Lynch said: "I'm over the moon - what a way for Selby to celebrate the Millennium.

"A lot of our planning policies are dependent on the bypass, including industrial land behind BOCM-Pauls.

''This land, which is crucial to the town's economy, will now be liberated.

"It's been a long, hard-fought campaign, and we've been down to London to see two different transport ministers in the last nine months.

"We put forward a good case and thankfully, at long last, someone has listened."

Coun Lynch added: "I would like to thank Mr Grogan for the tremendous amount of work he has put in. He has made the bypass his number one priority since winning the seat."

Selby's relentless campaign included videos of traffic snarl-ups sent to ministers, and 4,700 postcards from residents and businesses pledging their support, which landed on the desk of former transport minister Gavin Strang.

District and town councillor Rachel Cunliffe said: "I'm absolutely delighted - it's a great relief.

"The traffic jams and pollution are getting worse all the time, and for me they can't build it quick enough."

The Selby scheme scored highly with the Government on two key counts.

Mr Reid told MPs they were targeting new road projects which would take large volumes of traffic out of towns and villages, thereby improving the quality of life.

The chosen schemes were also designed to support economic growth in particular locations.

He said: "We have looked at schemes which could be started in the foreseeable future, and produced a programme that is funded and delivers our objectives."

The Selby bypass is seen as providing a "safer and healthier" environment in the town, as well as relieving congestion.

The Government agreed with Selby campaigners that removing a key bottleneck would uncork economic regeneration.

Work on the bypass is expected to take about three years, and could be up and running by 2002.

It will run from near the Barlby roundabout, round the back of BOCM-Pauls, over the River Ouse, and then across the A19 near Brayton to join up with the A63 between Thorpe Willoughby and Hambleton.

It's the town's longest-running saga, with the first approaches made to the Ministry of Transport in 1926.

Now the war is won and the champagne corks are finally popping.

Also included in the schedule of road changes are proposals to 'de-trunk' the A19 from Selby to Thirsk, which will effectively mean the road becoming the responsibility of the county council rather than the Highways agency.

Small scale schemes to improve safety on the A64 between York and Tadcaster and between York and Scarborough have also been given the go-ahead.

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