A former council leader has accused a York MP of being “profoundly dishonest and deceptive”.
Chris Steward, leader of the Conservative Group on City of York Council, made the allegation about Labour’s York Outer MP Luke Charters.
It comes after Mr Charters sent out letters claiming credit for investment in road improvements in Mr Steward’s Copmanthorpe ward.
In a social media post, Mr Steward, a former council leader, reproduced some letters from Mr Charters sent to constituents.
He writes: “When the Barratt development at the end of Moor Lane was given planning permission there was a completed s106 legal agreement about the work the company must do to repair Moor Lane.
“Residents on Moor Lane have really suffered during the development and the repair amount was pleasingly recently announced in the 26/27 CYC highways funding plans.
“It is my strong view that the lobbying of Luke Charters has not added a a single pound or even a single penny to the funding Barratt would have provided for Moor Lane.
“I believe every penny is purely them fulfilling their legal commitments, based on their conversations with CYC and damage to the road and pavements that we have sent into them and then looking at photos before.
“I have just been shown the other letter that I have put here which looks to show a near identical situation in Huntington and it seems our MP has simply seen the list of planned CYC spend across the city next year and is trying to take the credit.
“I don’t regard this as something normal of politicians (well it shouldn’t be) I regard it as profoundly dishonest and deceptive.”
Mr Charters issued a robust response to the allegation.
He told YorkMix: “Anyone who has bumped around on Keble Park North will know you practically need a moon buggy to get through there. It has been one of the roughest stretches in York Outer, so it is good to see it finally being resurfaced.
“Concerns about potholes and worn out road surfaces come up with me week in, week out. I was out doorknocking in Huntington just a couple of weeks ago and the state of New Lane was raised on almost every doorstep.
“It is a regular theme in my inbox too, because the condition of our roads affects everyday life, from the school run to getting to work safely.
“These issues matter to residents and they matter to me. I live here and experience the same potholes and uneven surfaces as everyone else.
“Because of the steady stream of emails I receive, I regularly contact the council about roads that need resurfacing and I consistently raise the condition of local infrastructure in meetings with developers across York Outer.
“That includes developments such as the Barratt Homes site in Copmanthorpe, alongside many other conversations about roads in the surrounding area.
“I have also repeatedly pressed the case for investment in our roads with Cllr Kate Ravilious Executive Member for Transport, and in discussions with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Ministers including Simon Lightwood and Lilian Greenwood.
“Alongside resurfacing, I have raised related issues such as pavement parking, which I formally highlighted last September in Parliament, because these are the everyday issues residents raise with me time and again.”
He added: “I have spent many many hours raising the need for improvements across York Outer because residents rightly expect roads that are safe and properly maintained.
“Any suggestion that effort has not gone into making that case simply does not reflect the reality. I will continue pressing for further investment, because our roads clearly need it.”
