YORK MP Julian Sturdy has taken the campaign for improvements on the city's outer ring road to the House of Commons.

Mr Sturdy yesterday asked the Prime Minister to join the campaign to dual the York ring road and help unlock major economic growth in York.

At Prime Minister's Questions yesterday afternoon, the MP said the city of York is benefitting from the Government's Northern led investment plan, but asked the PM to meet him and a delegation of business owners to talk about dualling the A1237.

Mr Sturdy said the road and its high levels of congestion is a serious barrier to further economic growth in the city.

Responding, David Cameron held back from agreeing to the meeting himself but said he would be happy to arrange a meeting between the York Outer MP and Transport Secretary Patrick McCloughlin.

The Prime Minister said he knew how much of a problem the A1237 could be but major plans to improve the Hopgrove A64 junction, announced recently, would make a "real difference" to congestion in the area.

Speaking after the debate, Mr Sturdy welcomed the chance to talk to the Transport Secretary about the road, but said the Hopgrove improvements will not go far enough.

He said: "The Prime Minister is right that York residents will benefit from the planned upgrades and grade separation of the Hopgrove roundabout, as part of the Government’s ‘Roads Revolution’. However, this will not resolve the longstanding congestion problems on the rest of the A1237, which is a Council-run road.

"Sadly I fear it is unlikely to be dualled if the status quo continues, predominantly because of the distinct lack of long term ambition within the Council. Perhaps fed up of their inaction, local businesses have rightly taken up the mantle to push for the major upgrades the northern ring road so badly needs. I will do absolutely everything in my power to facilitate their campaign and I look forward to getting the Transport Secretary round the table with York businesses to discuss this hugely important issue further.”