The long-awaited Blyth Relief Road has been thrown into jeopardy after the Government confirmed it would not be funding the scheme. It had been hoped that the £55 million scheme, which has been granted planning permission, would alleviate serious congestion issues in the town.
The project had hinged on whether the Department for Transport would provide the necessary cash. A decision had been expected by the end of the summer, but officials have now been told the project will not be taken forward.
Political reaction
The Conservative deputy leader of Northumberland County Council has slammed the decision, which comes two years after Keir Starmer's Government scrapped plans to dual the A1 in Northumberland. Coun Richard Wearmouth hit out at the Government and local Labour MPs, claiming the project was to be "fully funded" under Rishi Sunak.
He said: "Andy Burnham has become the latest Labour PM to cancel funding for a major road project in Northumberland after Keir Starmer did exactly the same in 2024 with the dualling of the A1. What is it with Labour Prime Ministers that the first thing they do when they take office is cancel funding for major road projects in Northumberland?
"Our county has now seen over half a billion pounds in roads funding cancelled by Labour. Sadly it confirms when it comes to investment in 'the north', Andy Burnham thinks the north starts and ends in Manchester.
"What next? Well as we always do we will work with Mayor McGuinness to see if we can somehow make this project work with regional funding, we don’t give up without a fight. But this cannot go on.
"Time after time Labour MPs sit back and do nothing as Northumberland get a raw deal from their own government. They vote through budgets that hurt Northumberland then wring their hands saying how terrible it is. It’s pathetic and it has to stop."
Project details
The council had agreed to fund around 15% of the project but bosses were clear it required a significant level of Government funding. The relief road is aimed at alleviating congestion issues and would see the construction of a new dual carriageway at the western end of the A1061, connecting the A192 Three Horseshoes junction and the A1061 Portland Wynd roundabout.
Road widening of the existing single carriageway to dual carriageway would also be carried out along the length of the A1061 as part of the plans. In addition, a new single carriageway link between Chase Farm Drive and Ogle Drive would be constructed.
Responding to Coun Wearmouth's comments, a spokesman for the DfT said: "The previous government did not fund these projects. Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we have had to make difficult decisions on a number of road projects and can only progress schemes that are good value for money for taxpayers.
"We're backing drivers with over £1bn for 16 major road schemes that will deliver the most benefits to local people, on top of a record £7.3bn to repair local roads and fix potholes."
According to the Government, the 16 schemes confirmed as part of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) earlier this year were found to be the "best value for money", delivering the "greatest benefits" to local residents.
Local concerns and next steps
Despite the ongoing congestion in the town, the relief road was not without its critics. Some councillors raised concerns it would be seen as a "waste of money" and fail to tackle congestion, while the council received more than 130 objections to the planning application.
Blyth and Ashington MP Ian Lavery felt some residents would be "relieved" and said a new solution must be developed.
Mr Lavery said: "Whilst I am disappointed that funding has not been secured for the Blyth Relief Road, many residents across Blyth will themselves be relieved by this decision. This is yet another project that was promised by the previous government without the funding required to deliver it, seemingly as a way of securing votes rather than providing a realistic plan.
"They must think people have collective amnesia. After all, they announced plans to dual the A1 in Northumberland no fewer than 19 times, yet by the end of their fourteen years in office, not a single millimetre had been delivered.
"It is therefore somewhat ironic to hear Conservative politicians criticising the outcome when they failed to provide the investment needed to make this scheme a reality. Having spent fourteen years in government without delivering on their own promises, their criticism now rings rather hollow.
"Anyone who regularly travels in or out of Blyth at peak times knows that action is needed. Cowpen Road, in particular, becomes heavily congested during school drop-off and pick-up times, as well as at the start and end of the working day.
"Over recent years, a significant number of local people have contacted me with concerns about the proposed scheme, questioning whether it would do enough to address the town's congestion problems, particularly at the northern and southern entrances to Blyth. Many residents have long been sceptical that simply dualling the southern approach into the town would provide a meaningful solution. At the same time, the proposed link road would have had a significant impact on nearby communities, in some cases running uncomfortably close to people's homes and gardens.
"What is needed now is a fresh approach. We must go back to the drawing board and develop a transport solution that genuinely tackles Blyth's traffic problems, supports future growth and delivers real value for taxpayers' money.
"I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Transport Secretary to discuss how we ensure Blyth gets the infrastructure it needs and to make the case for investment that addresses the town's transport challenges in a way that works for residents, businesses and the wider community."
