AFTER decades of campaigning, the Barton Hill junction on the A64 may be in line for improvement work as early as August, after landowner compensation was agreed.

The update was given to the Ryedale area committee of North Yorkshire County Council at their meeting in Helmsley last week.

Simon Jones, of Highways England, told the committee that compensation has been agreed for the land, disruption and accommodation works, and that the scheme is being scheduled as part of the 2017/18 programme for delivery, with a potential start date of August 2017.

However, he added that this was subject to funding being secured.

Councillors at the meeting tentatively welcomed the news.

Councillor Clare Wood, member of North Yorkshire County Council for Hovingham and Sheriff Hutton, said: “In the 16 years I’ve sat here I’ve tried to get

the Barton crossroads sorted out.”

She then asked for a reassurance from Highways England that the funding will be found, adding: “I will be enormously upset if yet again we carry on and there’s no progress on this.”

Councillor Caroline Goodrick added: “Thank you very much for your work - I will be there with the champagne when it’s delivered.”

The Barton Hill junction, known for being a site of frequent accidents, has been the target for improvement for many years. It was the subject of a decades-long campaign led by, among others, Ryedale coroner Michael Oakley.

The first phase of safety work, including new signage and road surfacing, took place in 2013.

Other subjects discussed at the meeting included the work at Scotchman Lane, the upgrade to the Hopgrove roundabout, and the weight limit on Kirkham bridge.

Highways England is currently looking at options to address the frequent congestion at Hopgrove, including dualling sections of the A64 between York and Malton.

Mr Jones said that “blanket duelling” between York and Scarborough couldn’t happen as the costs are “currently not feasible”, but added: “That’s not a reason to promote small sections of dualling.”

Thirsk & Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake has been campaigning for an upgrade to the A64.

Following minister’s questions on Thursday he said that the Secretary of State for Transport had agreed to meet up with himself and the ‘A64 Growth Partnership’ group - which includes the Local Enterprise Partnership, NYCC, Ryedale District Council and local businesses - to discuss the issue.