Re Conservative mayoral candidate Keane Duncan’s A64 aspiration to ‘Just Dual It’ (Gazette 17 Jan), perhaps I can help Keane with a couple of his unfortunate omissions.

Nobody can deny that the A64 is a key strategic trunk road and part-time car park. However, it’s the sole responsibility of Highways England, and therefore central government, to fund. North Yorkshire Council (NYC) already has the responsibility to maintain and fund 5,753 miles of road, many of which are in poor or appalling condition. Unless central government guarantees devolving A64 funding to the mayoral authority, shouldn’t council taxpayers’ money be correctly apportioned? Or will some of the abandoned HS2 ‘Levelling Up’ money be heading to the desolate north’s roads?

The dualling plan referred to only extends to Barton, hence just moving the congestion a few miles along the road, at £multi-million cost. Dualling has been extensively planned for circa 50 years with little delivery or cash, and certainly none from the gaggle of enthusiastic Tory politicians pictured, some approaching the likely end of their government’s 14 years’ tenure in power.

There’s clear evidence that traffic increases to fill new road capacity, but still attract £billions in funding. While climate change gallops apace and decarbonisation tugs its forelock to fossil fuel companies, is anyone planning instead to reduce road traffic to fit the current road capacity? This should include improved rail (freight and passenger) and bus capacity, along with active travel routes, but where are the promises of similar funding for these?

NYC recently refused a solar array near the only available grid connection in Ryedale as it would stand on a few acres of prime agricultural land. How many acres will this dualling cover in tarmac?

Still, it’ll appeal to many drivers and be a vote-winner for the politically ambitious. The critical stuff can apparently wait a few decades…. or not!

Mike Potter, Pickering