RESIDENTS and businesses are being urged to back a new campaign to dual the A64.

Highways England are consulting local people on four options for upgrading the A64 east of the Hopgrove roundabout on the outskirts of York.

Some of the options would provide dual carriageway from Hopgrove to the next section of dual carriageway at Barton-le-Willows. The outcomes of this consultation will then be fed back to the Government, who will make a final decision on the type and extent of the upgrading work.

The A64 Growth Partnership, which includes employers, local councils, MPs, business organisations and the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, believes it is essential that a dual carriageway upgrade from Hopgrove connects with the subsequent section and does not leave an unimproved section that would merely transfer the congestion further east.

Ultimately, the Partnership is seeking full dualling of the road from York to Malton, with safety and overtaking improvements between Malton and Scarborough. Residents are now being urged to support the A64 Growth Partnership by displaying new car stickers supporting the campaign.

“#A64JustDualIt” car stickers can be picked up from a range of businesses along the route and in Malton town centre, including from the Gazette & Herald office in Yorkersgate.

Ryedale District Council is one of the organisations involved in

supporting the campaign. Cllr Luke Ives, chairman of the council’s policy and resources committee, said: “We know the impact that delays caused by traffic on the A64 have on our businesses, our tourism industry and people living and working in our area.

“These car stickers are a simple way in which we can all show our support for getting the investment we need to deliver much-needed improvements.”

David Kerfoot, chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP, said: “This is about a public show of support for this much-needed new investment. We want people to show the government and politicians what this upgrading means to them and to local businesses.”

Tom Paul, from Kingspan, which is based just off the A64 at Sherburn, said their lorries use the route every day.

“People showing their support in this way will really help to raise the profile of why this road upgrade is so important for businesses,” he added. “We want to present a united front to Government to show how important this is. Working together will help to present the strongest possible case for new investment.”

Full details of the campaign are available at www.businessinspiredgrowth.com