A CAMPAIGN has been launched to make sure the Yorkshire Dales does not miss out on the benefits of the improved A1 motorway.

The road is currently being upgraded to a modern three-lane motorway between Leeming Bar and Barton in a £380m project due to be completed next June.

And local leaders are now campaigning to ensure that Wensleydale, Swaledale and Richmond are all indicated by brown tourism signs from the new road.

“The upgraded A1 is a tremendous economic boost for northern North Yorkshire and I want to ensure that the benefit is spread as widely as possible,” said local Tory MP Rishi Sunak.

He said new signage schemes had to be drawn up for junctions on the new road, creating an ideal opportunity to have signs for the two dales created most cost effectively.

He has written to Highways England asking for tourism signs be incorporated into the plans for signs at the new junctions.

Mr Sunak has the backing of North Yorkshire County Council leader Carl Les and Richmondshire District Council leader Yvonne Peacock.

“Tourism is such a vital and growing part of the economy in North Yorkshire. It makes sense to tell visitors to the area that they are close to some of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain,” said Cllr Les.

And Cllr Peacock added: “Wensleydale, Swaledale and Richmond are reliant on visitors. So many jobs depend on them.

“Anything we can do to tell people of the delights the upgraded road will make accessible will be a bonus for so many businesses.”

*The town of Masham fought a six-year, ultimately successful battle to have tourism signs erected following the upgrading of the Dishforth-Leeming stretch of the A1.