More than 3,000 people have backed a Chronicle and Journal campaign to improve safety on the A1 road in Northumberland. A petition accompanying the Dual the A1 and Save Lives campaign has been running online since last month.
Safety record and recent incidents
Many signatories have commented on the A1's poor safety record, which has seen more than 50 fatalities in Northumberland over the last 20 years. The campaign follows a recent spate of accidents in which six people were killed in three separate incidents within weeks of each other.
Coalition and political support
The Chronicle and Journal have joined a coalition of political, business and community leaders calling for safety improvements. Politicians from Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens and independents have backed the campaign, led by Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson and North East mayor Kim McGuinness.
Personal accounts from signatories
Among those signing the petition are people directly affected by accidents on the road. One said: “After being involved in a serious RTA (road traffic accident) on this stretch of road back on May bank holiday, I can’t stress enough how important it is to make this stretch of road safer.” Another added: “I’ve been inches away from a serious collision between Morpeth and Alnwick. The road is a disgrace - this is the A1, the principle A road in the UK, sort it out please.”
A third signatory said: “The road is dangerous and there have been too many fatal and life changing accidents on this road. My friend’s husband is now paralysed after an accident on this road and requires 24 hour care. Investment is required to help the north - this is one of the main routes to Scotland so dualling would help businesses and industries in the UK. It is a travesty that it hasn’t been done sooner.”
Government position and economic factors
The current Government scrapped plans for dualling in 2024, saying the scheme was not good value for money. The previous Government had said it was in favour of dualling but had not acted during 14 years in power.
The growth of the county's tourism sector has added weight to calls for a fresh examination of the case for dualling. The booming offshore energy industry at Blyth and the data centre being built at Cambois have also increased the need for better infrastructure. The road's shortcomings are impacting other parts of the county, with many villages suffering heavy traffic as they are used as “rat runs” when the road gets blocked.
