North Yorkshire Council Votes to Back A64 Dualling Amid "Decades-Long Neglect"

North Yorkshire Council has formally reiterated its staunch support for the dualling of the A64 with a vote securing wide cross-party backing for the essential road upgrade.

The decisive vote followed a recommendation from the Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee to uphold the motion which

• Reiterates the council's support for the dualling of the A64;
• Agrees to write to the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire and the Members of Parliament for York Outer, Thirsk & Malton and Scarborough & Whitby requesting confirmation of their support for this essential upgrade;
• Commits the council to working on a cross-party basis with national and local political representatives to secure this essential upgrade at long last.

The council’s resolution aims to strengthen the demand for investment in infrastructure for rural and coastal regions of North Yorkshire, including areas supporting strategic employment sites and future housing growth in the Ryedale and Scarborough areas.

Councillor Keane Duncan, who originally proposed the motion, argued that the upgrade was fundamentally a "call for fairness," stressing the region’s long wait for infrastructure funding. Speaking ahead of the vote, Councillor Duncan highlighted the significant detriment the current road state poses to the local economy and safety.

Councillor Duncan delivered a powerful appeal for unity, asserting that neglect of the road symbolises a divided Britain where rural and coastal regions are left behind while cities remain the focus.

He stated:

“The A64 is holding back our economy. It's strangulating growth and it's costing too many lives.

For decades, successive governments, Labour and Conservative, have failed to duel the A64.

This neglect is perhaps symbolic of a divided Britain. It used to be North versus South. Now the North fares better, but cities are the focus with rural and coastal regions like ours still left behind.

Today's motion is more than a call for a road upgrade. It's a call for fairness. My aim is not simply to win a vote in the council chamber today with a majority, but hopefully to unite this chamber across political divides so that we can send the strongest possible message to government”.

Dualling Essential for Safety and Growth

The A64, which carries significant volumes of freight and visitor traffic essential for local tourism and economic activity, remains largely single carriageway. This configuration is cited by council reports as contributing to delays, a poor accident record, and negatively impacting local economic growth.

Ahead of the vote, Councillor Duncan warned that failure to show a united front could lead to government overlooking the scheme.

He added:

“The A64 is one of 30 schemes competing for funding. Without clear United backing from this council, the reality is that government will look elsewhere.

The vote today, it will not guarantee dualling, but it will hopefully show to government that North Yorkshire stands united across political divides for economic growth, for safety, for fair funding.

After 50 years of waiting, let us not give government an easy excuse to ignore us again. Let us say clearly and strongly that we support during the A64 and we demand the infrastructure North Yorkshire deserves”.

The motion passed by the full Council mandates that the council will commit to working on a cross-party basis with national and local political representatives to finally secure the upgrade. It also agrees to write to the Mayor of York & North Yorkshire and Members of Parliament, including the MP for Scarborough & Whitby, requesting confirmation of their support.

Environmental and Phasing Concerns Raised

The decision to back the original motion follows a detailed scrutiny process held on 22 October 2025. During debates, members acknowledged that discussions about dualling the A64 have persisted for decades.

Although the final motion was upheld as written, the Scrutiny Committee considered amendments that introduced elements of balance and caution. One proposal, submitted by Councillor Liz Colling, aimed to broaden the motion to include sustainable transport options such as rail, bus, and active travel. Supporters of this amendment argued that such investment would deliver greater long-term benefits and better align with environmental objectives. However, opponents emphasised the immediate need to address congestion and safety risks posed by the A64 through dualling schemes. This proposal was lost in the committee vote.

Concerns surrounding climate change implications were also referenced, including potential damage caused by the construction of new roads and increased traffic on new routes. However, the committee also acknowledged the existing environmental harm caused by vehicles idling due to persistent bottlenecks and traffic congestion at pinch points on the current A64 route.

Despite the clear cross-party support for the scheme, the council was reminded by National Highways that the final decision on schemes rests with the government, and all projects currently in the pipeline remain "uncommitted, with no guarantee they’ll be taken forward into construction".