Renewed calls to bring back shelved road dualling

Mike Starkie accused the government of having the wrong priorities

The government has been urged to restore plans to dual the A66 road which runs across northern England.

Mike Starkie, the former Conservative Mayor of Copeland, in Cumbria, said the upgrade was needed to "support growth."

The project was put on hold indefinitely by the government in 2024 citing a "black hole" in public finances, but many want the chancellor to commit to the project as soon as possible in the spending review in June.

Labour North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith said "we know the money wasn't there in the first place" for major schemes promised by the previous government.

The road is a key artery running east and west between Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire and Workington in Cumbria.

Before the 2024 general election, the Conservative government was moving ahead with plans for sections between the A1(M) and Penrith, but Labour swiftly put the project on hold alongside a number of others.

David Skaith was elected as mayor of North Yorkshire in May 2024

Explaining the decision, Skaith told BBC Politics North: "The government did inherit a terrible financial situation.

"We have lots of conversations with local leaders and MPs in North Yorkshire about such projects.

"We've invested heavily into our rural transport network and we're looking at active travel provision as well, and working with the rail operators to improve that connectivity as that's what I have power over."

However, Starkie accused Labour of unfairly leaving road users behind.

He said: "What we're seeing is a clear demonstration of this government's misguided priorities.

"They can find £84bn to surrender the Chagos Islands, but then we've got infrastructure in our country that, to support growth, needs updating."

"The projects that have actually got through the planning process - like the A66 - are getting shelved after already clearing the hurdles."

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