SENIOR councillors have agreed to formally welcome a call to upgrade the A64 between York and Scarborough - despite a warning that it could make it more difficult for local people to buy homes.

Ryedale District Council's policy and resources committee also agreed last night that the findings of a study suggesting the improvements to the road should be "vigorously pursued".

Julian Rudd, the council's planning and conservation manager, told the committee that the new report on the A64, carried out by consultants Steer Davies Gleave for local authorities, including Ryedale, and regional agencies, was "a major step forward".

But he added: "There is a long way to go."

The two options most favoured are making the entire A64 between the A1 and Scarborough a dual carriageway, including a bypass at Rillington, at a total cost of £200 million; and upgrading the stretch between the Hopgrove roundabout, York, and Whitwell, and between Malton and Rillington, at a cost of £96 million.

Mr Rudd said it was vital that the scheme should get on the regional agenda - which had now been achieved, although it was at the bottom of a 16-strong list of

major road improvements in Yorkshire and the Humber.

"This study has been ground-breaking," he said.

The £96 million option of the partial dualling would provide the best benefit-to-cost ratio, said Mr Rudd.

The £200 million scheme would significantly reduce the A64's bad accident record, but it would have the greatest impact on the environment.

Coun John Clark said improvements to the A64 would encourage more people from Leeds and Bradford to live in Ryedale, and as a result house prices would increase.

"The report has only looked at the economic and not the environmental impact of the improvements," he said.

Coun Clark warned that there would be a consequent increase in the volume of traffic using Ryedale's lanes and villages. "We should go no further down this route," he said.

Updated: 11:06 Friday, October 10, 2003