In a letter to the council last week, the Department for Transport made it clear that all major transport schemes are on hold until its spending review in the Autumn. But Labour's transport spokesperson Coun. Ruth Potter said the news was a likely portent of things to come:

"This is dire news for the city and the council's plans both to tackle traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions. In recent months we have become more aware of the extent of the problems that exist and which face us in the future around traffic congestion and dangerously poor air quality in the city. These are just two in a whole host of reasons why new Park and Rides are needed.

"The amount of preparatory work and the resources that have gone into planning for the A59 site, as well as plans for increasing the Askham Bar site, are huge. The DfT is now advising councils to stop all work, in York's case on its Access York scheme, as this is likely to be a further waste of time and money. My feeling is final confirmation of this holding decision will come in the Autumn and the three sites will be cancelled.

"It's a disaster for the Lib Dem council and any plans it had to reduce congestion over the years ahead. It must now be ruing the time when it came into power in 2003 when it could have delivered the A59 Park and Ride, but did nothing for years. Now it can't and only has itself to blame".

The letter from the DfT includes the following guidance:

‘All schemes that were granted Conditional Approval or Programme Entry by the previous Government will be reviewed as part of the spending review. Until then, the Government can give no assurances on funding support for any of these schemes. We should make it clear that all spend by Local Authorities and PTEs on schemes that have not yet reached full approval is entirely at their own risk'.

The Access York scheme comes under the ‘Programme Entry' category of planned schemes. The third site shelved under the plans is the Wigginton Road site at Clifton Moor.