The dualling of the York Outer Ring Road is moving forward, the council’s transport spokesperson has said, amid opposition claims of inaction over an almost £100m funding gap.
Liberal Democrat opposition transport spokesperson Cllr Stephen Fenton said a freedom of information request showed no representations for funding have been made beyond securing £25m previously pledged by the Government.
Labour council transport executive member Cllr Kate Ravilious said that grant was based on underestimates from the previous Liberal Democrat-led administration and hers would work to get the extra cash.
It comes as councillors heard at the latest full council meeting officials were progressing with design, procurement and legal work for the first phase of the scheme.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Cllr Paula Widdowson’s asked if there had been a breakdown in communications over the funding at September’s full council meeting.
Cllr Ravilious denied the suggestion, saying the council had successfully secured the £25m it had asked for before knowing the full costs of the scheme.
The project to dual the road from the A19 to the Little Hopgrove roundabout was approved in 2024 and at the time it was set to cost an estimated £66.4m.
Estimated costs have since jumped in part due to inflation by almost £100m, to £164m, leading to the council’s executive’s decision in July to deliver the scheme in four phases.
The first phase is set to focus on Clifton Moor roundabout, with later phases prioritising works that will bring forward sites where a total of 3,557 homes are planned.
The Government confirmed in July that a previous £25m pledge towards the project still stood following a review into spending commitments launched shortly after Labour took power nationally last year.
But Liberal Democrat Cllr Fenton said their FOI request showed there had been no requests for extra funding despite the almost £100m gap.
The opposition councillor added it came after Cllr Ravilious had said she would explore future funding options with the Government and mayor once updated costs are known.
Cllr Fenton said: “This is nothing short of a scandal, Labour promised to fight for York and to lobby the Government when costs increased.
“The FOI response makes crystal clear they have done absolutely nothing, at a time when York faces an almost £100m black hole in funding for the Outer Ring Road dualling Labour’s inaction is a betrayal of residents and businesses.”
Cllr Chris Steward, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said the only things that had happened on the scheme had been an array of photo opportunities, spin and supposed announcements.
The Conservative said: “In reality there has been no progress made at all and the costs of the project continue to rise which means as and when any dualling happens it will be more limited than ever.”
Labour’s Cllr Ravilious said the scheme had been one of a small handful to receive any Government funding which was thanks to the efforts of the party’s local elected officials.
The executive member added Labour remained committed to delivering the crucial project and the Liberal Democrats were desperately searching for a scandal where there was none to be found.
Cllr Ravilious said: “As any politician worth their salt would know, most lobbying is done in person and the slew of FOI requests the Liberal Democrats are making simply clogs up council officers’ time, costing everyone time and money.
“At the time of lobbying we only had the Liberal Democract administration’s wishful underestimated costs to go on, we couldn’t ask for more funding without evidencing the cost.
“Having since done the robust cost estimate for the scheme we will now work hard to gain the remaining funding that is needed.”
