First for project unearthing past

Contractors have this week been asked to put in bids in connection with the £22m Access York scheme to deliver desperately needed park-and-ride sites in the city. The proposals would see an existing facility at Askham Bar relocated and doubled in size, with a new site introduced on the outskirts of York at Upper Poppleton and a major upgrade of the A59/A1237 ring road.

Ahead of construction work and for what is thought to be the first time in the UK, an excavation has been set up on the Poppleton site so that the public can work side-by-side with commercial archaeologists and be involved in the project from start to finish. Archaeologists hope the dig will throw light on the development of the area in the late prehistoric and Romano-British periods.

York Council said following evaluation of the tenders and confirmation of funding from the Department for Transport, it is anticipated the park-and-ride works will start in January next year with completion by April 2014.

An open weekend is being held on November 17 and 18 to provide more information about the dig at the Poppleton site. More details are available by emailing [email protected]