BROWN tourism signs to Wensleydale have been erected on the A1(M) just in time for the bank holiday weekend.
The signs to the dale are now place at Junction 51 Leeming Bar following a campaign by Rishi Sunak, the Conservative Party general election candidate for Richmond, supported by the leaders of Richmondshire District Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
The A1 is currently being upgraded to a three-lane motorway between Leeming Bar and Barton, near Scotch Corner, in a £380m scheme. It is due to be completed by the end of this year.
Signs to Wensleydale were not included in the original signage scheme drawn up by Highways England (HE) but following talks between Mr Sunak and local HE officials it was agreed to include the dale on new signs being made for the busy junction which is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.
The leader of Richmondshire District Council, Cllr Yvonne Peacock, agreed that the council would meet the £4,000 cost. Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, agreed that his authority would deal with the adminstration and liason with Highways England.
Mr Sunak said: “The upgraded A1 is a wonderful asset for this area and I want the businesses that depend on tourism to get the best from the improved road links. When the new road is fully open later this year the Yorkshire Dales will be only a few miles from the national motorway network and it is vital that we tell people that this internationally-renowned landscape is so near.”
Cllr Peacock said: “Tourism is vital to Wensleydale and we have so much to offer. It is excellent news that the new signs are in place for the holiday weekend.”
She thanked the Lower Wensleydale Business Network and the Upper Wensleydale Business Association for their support for the signs campaign.
Cllr Les said the county council had been pleased to offer its staff support in agreeing the details of the application for the signs with Highways England.
He said: “The new road is a tremendous investment in North Yorkshire and we want to make sure we get the best value from it. The county council is committed to developing the visitor economy and good signage is essential to that.”