MORE lives were lost on York's outer ring road yesterday in crashes during the rush hour. Our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones.

There is no suggestion the accidents had anything to do with the size of the road. But the A1237 has been the scene of terrible accidents in the past in which the volume of traffic crammed on to a single carriageway has been an issue.

By grim coincidence, the crashes come as we break the news that the outer ring road will not be dualled. City of York Council has ruled out the idea because it would cost too much and attract more traffic.

This is the wrong decision.

The problem is not of the current council's making. Almost as soon as the ribbon was snipped on the A1237, everyone realised that it was not big enough.

This inadequacy was made worse by the Eighties mania for out of town shops and leisure facilities, built along the ring road.

The result: accidents, jams, pollution and misery.

The solution: dual the outer ring road. Council plans to upgrade roundabouts is mere tinkering in comparison.

Raising the money for such a major scheme is not easy. York needed to keep lobbying Whitehall until the Government realised we had a compelling case.

By surrendering that option, the council has ensured that the stress, economic harm and damage to air quality caused by the congestion will worsen indefinitely.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, June 29, 2005