YORK’S transport boss is to send out a fresh appeal for support for The Press’ drive to ensure Government cash is secured for a vital congestion-busting scheme.

The Get York Moving campaign is gathering pace as the city prepares to launch a second bid for the Westminster funding necessary to build three new Park&Ride sites as part of the Access York project, aimed at easing the city’s gridlock problems.

York missed out on a £23 million Government grant for the scheme earlier this year and must now compete with 21 other projects for a share of a £600 million funding pot, and we are looking to gather as much backing as possible from throughout the city to prove to the decision-makers that the city deserves to be on the list of winners.

Coun Steve Galloway, City of York Council’s executive member for city strategy, will this week table a motion at a full meeting of the authority praising Get York Moving’s aims and asking for residents and businesses to help “send a clear message of support to the Government”.

He will also call for chief executive Kersten England to write to Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond and invite him to York to see the benefits Access York could bring to the city.

If funding is secured for the first phase of the project, three new Park&Ride sites would be built near the A59 at Poppleton, next to Wigginton Road at Clifton Moor, and as a replacement for the existing facilities at Askham Bar.

The council will need to express its interest in making a fresh application for Government money by January 4, with bids expected to be submitted by next autumn and final decisions set to be made by the end of the year. Should York succeed, work on the project could start in April 2012.

Council leader Andrew Waller said: “The more clarity we have about what should be included in our bid, the better.

“There is a groundswell of support for Access York and the Get York Moving campaign and we are making it clear that it has a sound economic basis.”