York's £60m cash bid to upgrade city's railway station

Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which includes City of York Council, is to receive £50,000 to develop bids for improved links between suburbs and city centres.

She said £60 million was on offer this year to kickstart transport upgrades.

York Tory council leader Ian Gillies said the announcement was “fantastic news” for York, and the funding would allow the council to develop proposals to deliver its full vision of highway proposals for the front and rear of York Railway Station.

He said: “This vision is set out in the master plans for York Central and the front of the station, and this announcement brings these ambitious proposals a step closer.”

Lib Dem deputy council leader Cllr Andrew Waller said he welcomed the recognition of the need for investment, as his party had long been campaigning for this.

“The investment is particularly needed to support sustainable transport here in York and by investing in cycling and enhancing the reliability of buses in the city, we will take significant steps in improving our air quality.”

Green group leader Andy D’Agorne said: “This appears very welcome, as it it will go some way towards meeting our transport needs, but I need to see more details.”

Labour group leader Janet Looker said: “We welcome this opportunity to be part of the opportunity to bid for significant funds. As part of the West Yorkshire LEP we have benefited from some significant financial contributions to improving our transport - including improvements to the Outer York Ring road, and to access arrangements for York Central.

“This might give us the impetus to follow up some of the ideas around improving bus facilities at the newly formed York Station redevelopment.”

York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell said: “Investing in good public transport connectivity and active travel is the way forward for cities to address congestion and improve air quality. It is vital that York radically reviews its transport plans to enable people have real choices as to how they travel.”

A Government spokesman said the authority will work closely alongside government to co-develop proposals to overhaul transport infrastructure.

He said this could include projects such as developing smart technology to integrate bus, rail and cycling information, or investing in key corridors between communities where there is significant employment growth.

Mrs May said Yorkshire’s cities were “right at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse” and renowned across the country for their industry and innovation. “Alongside £13 billion committed to transport across the north of England, the Transforming Cities Fund will continue to empower our cities to put in place the infrastructure they need to thrive,” she said.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “From introducing technology that helps buses cut through traffic jams, to delivering new infrastructure that makes it possible for people to cycle to work, we are targeting investment on the links that will make a real difference for us all.