Deal struck for park and ride sites

Councillors in York yesterday voted through plans to buy the land for the two developments at Poppleton Bar and Askham Bar.

The Yorkshire Post revealed last week that York Council had faced a pressing need to make a decision before the end of the month. The options for the purchase expire on March 31 and landowners are understood to have been unwilling to extend the deal under the original conditions.

Council leader James Alexander said: “These two new park and ride sites will be vital to getting York moving. We are awaiting final confirmation from the Government for funding, but the decision to purchase the land shows a commitment from the council and it is big step forward.”

The two new sites will cost a total of £22m and will bolster the city’s existing park-and-ride network. The Government is expected to pay about 70 per cent of the overall cost. However, the exact cost of the land purchase has not been disclosed as it is deemed to be commercially sensitive.