BUSINESS leaders say major road improvements are needed to help regenerate the economy along the North Yorkshire coast.

The call is made in an economic blueprint, produced for Scarborough Borough Council, which will go before its cabinet next week.

The document says upgrading the A64 Scarborough to York road, the A165 between Scarborough and Filey, the A171 Scarborough to Whitby road, and the A614 over the Yorkshire Wolds is essential.

A study looking at the economic impact of upgrading the A64 will be used to establish improvements on the road as a regional priority, said Richard Grunwell, chairman of the Yorkshire Coast Partnership.

The partnership's report, called Towards 2010 - The Renaissance of the Yorkshire Coast, says the priorities for the next three years include making an extra 90 acres of land available to extend Scarborough Business Park and researching the importance and impact of business tourism to the coast.

Mr Grunwell said: "We want to get the Government's acceptance that it is economically imperative that the A64 is upgraded. This means ensuring that improved communications to the coast are seen as a regional priority based on the urgent need to regenerate the coast's economy."

He said improvements were also needed to rail services to the coast and the possibility of a local airport should be investigated.