Member Article

North Yorkshire bids for £32 million road link funds

North Yorkshire County Council is bidding for almost £32 million of government funding for schemes to improve vital road links in the county.

The bids through the Government’s Challenge Fund are the latest example of the county council’s commitment to maintaining and improving the county’s 5,600-mile (9,000km) road network.

The authority, supported by local MPs, has been lobbying the Government about the maintenance crisis facing the county’s roads for the past 18 months.

The Challenge Fund bid is in two parts: £6.7 million towards major structural repairs to Selby bypass and £25 million towards landslip prevention schemes on two important routes in the Yorkshire Dales.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd, executive member for highways said: “In common with the rest of the country, North Yorkshire is facing the challenge of having to make huge savings.

“However, we understand that good roads are vital for day-to-day travelling, business, pleasure and economic prosperity.

“That is why we will continue to make the best use of our budget and seek additional funding wherever possible, such as through the Government’s Challenge Fund.”

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, who instigated an online campaign to have the bypass repaired, said: “I am wholeheartedly behind this bid for funds to support the Selby bypass repairs and am delighted that the county council is to start this work shortly. This road is vital for residents, businesses and visitors to the area and has been in a very bad state for too long.”

The county council is also bidding for £25m towards landslip prevention schemes on two important routes in the Yorkshire Dales.

This comprises £9m for work on the A59 at Kex Gill between Harrogate and Skipton and £16m for work on the A6108/B6270 corridor into Swaledale to the west of Richmond.

The Challenge Fund was launched by the Government last autumn. It allows highway authorities to bid for funding for major maintenance projects that are difficult to fund through the normal allocat

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .