THE government’s roads minister has been shown first-hand the issues with the A64 ahead of a decision on dualling next month.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, arranged for roads minister Baroness Vere to travel down the A64 to see first-hand the current issues and to meet with the A64 Growth Partnership.

Following the visit, the partnership and Mr Hollinrake, along with fellow local MPs Robert Goodwill and Julian Sturdy, are to make a further submission to the Secretary of State for Transport to help make the case for improving and upgrading the road.

Transport ministers will decide in January which projects will be included in the next Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) as part of the long-term programme to improve England’s motorways and major roads post-2020.

Mr Hollinrake said “The minister agreed that there is a compelling case for the A64 to be dualled. The success of the local economy depends heavily on the decision to include this road in RIS2, which I am expecting to be announced next month.

“This was one of my key priorities during the election and now that I am returned to Parliament I shall continue my campaign to improve this vital piece of transport infrastructure.”

The visit also gave the MPs another opportunity to explain to the minister concerns over Highway’s England’s business case process and highlighted the value that tourism and visitors bring to the entire region, encompassing Ryedale, the North Yorkshire Moors and coast.

Mr Goodwill said: “The A64 upgrade at Hopgrove is the single most important infrastructure project for my constituents in Scarborough and Whitby – despite being 38 and 45 miles from Scarborough and Whitby, respectively.

“The unreliability of journey times not only impacts on companies like McCain that rely on HGV deliveries, but has serious consequences for those commuting to work and for tourists returning to places like Leeds on a Bank Holiday Monday. This is the single biggest block to the economic development out on the coast.”

Mr Sturdy said: “Following on from the announcement in October that funding has been approved to dual the York Outer Ring Road, it is now more important than ever to improve safety and ease congestion on the A64.

“Along with other North Yorkshire MPs, I was pleased to welcome the roads minister to see these issues for herself. I hope that together we can progress the bid to secure this much needed investment.”