SKIPTON MP Julian Smith has said he is unaware of any rising costs associated with the A59 Kex Gill realignment scheme.

Nidderdale Councillor Andrew Murday asked Mr Smith at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council whether the cost of building a new three mile stretch of road to replace the landslip prone section of the A59 had risen because of the rising costs of materials.

The scheme, which is due to be completed by autumn, 2025, is set to cost £68.8 million. It will start close to North Moor Road and finish at Blubberhouses, close to Swinsty reservoir car park.

The Department of Transport is providing £56.1m with the remaining money coming from North Yorkshire Council.

Cllr Murday said: "I think we can assume there will be a fair amount of overspend in this project in the cost of raw materials at the very least. How will that overspend be met in that event?"

Mr Smith told the Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee that he had not had any indication of any overspend and that he had not had any representations from the council about it.

"I have not had any representations from the council that more money is required; I will ask the question, but I have had no indications that there is a request for more money," he said.