Millions of pounds are to be invested in three key York transport schemes as a result of the scrapping of the HS2 northern section, say leading city Conservatives.
The Government says it is to redirect £19.8 billion of the cash saved from the HS2 high speed rail link into transport projects in the north east.
In York, two road upgrades and one rail project look set to benefit.
Ministers have pledged to pay in full for the long-discussed Haxby Station on the York to Scarborough railway line.
And the list of ‘Network North’ road improvements includes
- a second phase of dualling the York Outer Ring Road, from Wetherby Road to the A19
- and the A1079 improvement scheme at Wilberfoss.
Phase 1 of upgrading the ring road, covering the A19 Shipton Road to the A1036 Little Hopgrove, is due to begin next year.
No budget or further details are yet available for the newly announced schemes, which were hailed by local Conservatives.
Keane Duncan, the Conservative candidate for York and North Yorkshire Mayor, said: “HS2’s costs have soared and it’s suffered delay after delay – proving a distraction from the investment we really need in York & North Yorkshire.
“The decision to scrap it and divert millions of extra investment into more pressing improvements here represents a turning point for our region.”
And the MP for York Outer Julian Sturdy said: “We’ve become preoccupied with investing billions in a short rail link 75 miles away from York.
“And we’ve lost sight of the real infrastructure needs of the whole North, including the investment we so desperately require here such as dualling the Outer Ring Road.”