Government chiefs are being asked how York can become a front-runner in the race to win funding to turn a vital transport scheme into a reality.

The city’s £25 million Access York initiative, which aims to create three new Park&Ride sites and help ease congestion, missed out when the Department for Transport announced which projects would be given the go-ahead last month.

The Press has since launched its Get York Moving campaign, urging residents, businesses and politicians to push York’s case for a share of a £600 million pot of transport funding, which 21 projects across the UK are battling to win.

City of York Council leader Andrew Waller is now writing to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, asking what the revised application for the money to build the new sites at Poppleton, Clifton Bar and Askham Bar needs for York to be successful.

He said: “I am seeking clarity on what the Government is looking for in the revisions to our bid, such as business support and potential private capital.

“We need to know this because the total value of the 21 schemes is about £850 million but the funding allocation is £600 million, and if they all come down in price there is a chance they can all be done.

“Our original bid was very strong, but it’s regrettable that in the trolley-dash of promises made by central Government before the General Election, programmes such as this got washed out.

“But if you look at value for money, economic prosperity and job creation, our bid shows York is buoyant. However, for this to happen, we need to get people moving.”

Coun Waller said the volume of support from York people for the scheme could be a major factor in swaying the Government towards approving its bid and he renewed his call for The Press’s campaign to be backed.

“There is a groundswell of support which we need to continue,” he said. “People see the sense in this. They are clear about what is essential and what is nice to have, and they realise Access York is essential.”