LEADING councillors have voiced serious concerns about a safety improvement programme for the A64 between York and the North Yorkshire coast, saying promised work has not yet been carried out.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council's ruling executive have requested an urgent meeting with the Highways Agency to discuss measures planned on the A64 between York and Scarborough.

A Highways Agency route management strategy (RMS) highlighted improvements that need to be made to the trunk road. They include improved safety in accident blackspots and better road crossing facilities.

But the county council's Ryedale Area Committee reported its concerns that the work - including more bus shelters and junction improvements at each end of the Malton bypass - had not yet been done.

Coun Murray Naylor, executive member and Conservative councillor for Rillington, said the agency had not provided any timetable to the county council showing when the work would be done.

He said: "The RMS was done about two-and-a-half years ago, but we've seen very little of it realised.

"There seems to be a lack of any real improvement to the safety of the A64 in the Ryedale area.

"I think there's a feeling of frustration that an awful lot of effort has been put into consulting people and studying the road - but two years later we really haven't seen very much happening.

"What we want is a properly worked out forward plan."

He said communication with the agency had become harder, making it difficult to request routine improvements on the road.

A Highways Agency spokesperson said: "We are very happy to arrange a meeting with Coun Naylor to discuss any issues.

"Work will start on site in late April on the installation of two bus shelters in Sherburn.

"The Highways Agency has identified the need for improved access to the A64 at Malton.

"Nine junctions on the A64 are currently being considered for improvement work, six of which are in the Ryedale area.

"In addition, further safety improvement work has been undertaken at Golden Hill, the Jinnah Restaurant and the Brambling Fields junction, and a cycleway is under construction at Staxton."

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, March 24, 2004