A CAMPAIGN has been launched to improve safety and tackle traffic jams on the A1079 near York.

Representatives of communities dotted along the trunk road - including Dunnington, Pocklington, Barmby Moor, Wilberfoss, Shiptonthorpe, Catton and Market Weighton - have agreed to join together to form a campaign group.

East Riding of Yorkshire councillor Hilary Saynor said the group had deep concerns about the growing dangers and difficulties on a road of enormous strategic importance to the East Riding.

Motorists found it increasingly dangerous trying to get on to the A1079 from nearby towns and villages, and also in getting past slow-moving agricultural vehicles.

But the road also suffered growing congestion and traffic flow problems, with long traffic jams building up at times on the westbound side leading up to the Grimston Bar roundabout and A64 on the outskirts of York, and there were concerns this was affecting the area's economic vitality.

She said almost 50 people attended a meeting to discuss the problems at Pocklington Arts Centre earlier this week, organised by the Pocklington Gateway Project.

"Presentations were given by the Humberside traffic policing inspector; fire brigade and (the ambulance service) Tenyas, detailing the problems that they come across as a result of their duties," she said.

Officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council also attended the forum to explain what had been done to improve safety recently, and what was being planned in the short-term.

She said a group from Dunnington was already in the process of campaigning for improvements in the York area.

The meeting had acknowledged that the road was of enormous strategic importance to the East Riding, "and to have such an inadequate link between two of the great northern cities (York and Hull) was detrimental to the East Riding, the City of Hull, the City of York and North Yorkshire".

Coun Saynor said campaigners had not yet decided what specific improvements were needed.

But one change which might greatly boost traffic flow would be the construction of a slip road leading directly from the A1079 on to the westbound A64.

She said many motorists wanted to go straight onto this road but became unnecessarily stuck in traffic queuing to get on to the roundabout.

Other improvements might include:

More turning lanes in the centre of the road for traffic wanting to turn right into local villages

Introducing dual carriageways on certain sections

Roundabouts to ease access on to the road.

The campaign group's concerns will be highlighted to the Regional Office of the Government and to the Department of Transport.

Updated: 10:50 Friday, January 13, 2006