THE owner of a York-based courier firm says congestion on York Outer Ring Road and the A64 regularly causes huge delays for his team of drivers.

Simon Williams, who runs Yorkshire Express Services Ltd from the Raylor Centre in James Street and is also regional chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, was throwing his support behind The Press’ Dual Them! campaign.

The newspaper’s petition supports the demand of the A64 Growth Partnership - launched last week by local councils, MPs, businesses and trade organisations - for the route between York and Malton to be fully dualled. It also calls for the Government to fund the dualling of the ring road by City of York Council.

Mr Williams said congestion on both roads posed real difficulties for his business, particularly if in making time critical deliveries, and he fully supported The Press campaign.

“Congestion is a serious problem for us, particularly in the morning and afternoon peaks, when it can just be gridlock,” he said.

“As a courier company, we are expected to deliver within a time schedule, so when we are looking at the A64, it becomes very difficult to actually gauge how long it’s going to take.

“Our customers expect us to pick up from their property within an hour and during the summer periods and Bank Holidays, it can take us anything up to four hours to get to Scarborough if we stay on the A64.”

Others signing up to out petition include Joe Livingston of York, who said he spent approximately 30 unnecessary minutes a week stuck in his car queuing, because the A1237 was “not fit for purpose”.

He said: “I hate to think how much wasted time and unnecessary stress/delay/missed opportunities this terrible road has caused the people of York. This proposed change was essential five-plus years ago - now it is an emergency.” James Massie, of York, said: “York and its traffic need bringing into the 21st century.” Paul Hodgson, of York, said: “Ring road adds 30 mins to my journey - absolute nightmare” and Stephen Gerrard, of Dunnington, said: “As a major conduit to the east coast, the A64 is desperate for an upgrade. At busy times, it is a car park.”