Northumberland's council leader has declared that the region's determination to secure dualling of the A1 will not be weakened by the Government's lack of commitment. The long-running campaign to upgrade the busy road through Northumberland has been revitalised after a tragic series of fatal incidents.
Six people lost their lives in three separate accidents on the A1 in May and June, prompting renewed calls for Labour ministers to reconsider a dualling project that was cancelled in 2024. Much of the A1 becomes a single carriageway north of Morpeth, a longstanding source of safety and congestion concerns.
Commons Debate Highlights Government Stance
North East MPs urged the Government to rethink its decision during a House of Commons debate on Wednesday. However, transport minister Simon Lightwood said he did not want to 'raise unrealistic expectations' and reiterated that dualling the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham offered 'comparatively weak value for money when assessed against competing investment priorities'.
Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the response was 'completely predictable and in no way does it slacken our resolve on the latest bid'. He added: 'I think the resolve is absolutely as strong as it was and, to that end, we have taken on some extra resources within the council – even though it is not a council road – and we are putting together evidence, data, and statistics which will build into a file which we will give to National Highways in September.'
Council Taking Proactive Steps
Sanderson emphasised that the council is not simply lamenting the situation. 'We are not just ringing our hands and saying 'isn't this terrible' and then playing the party political card. We are taking positive steps to change minds, change the road, and change its dreadful safety record. Northumberland has changed hugely over the last 40 years and the A1 is now wholly inadequate for the level of traffic there is and the importance our county holds. The effect of it being over capacity is long congestion, which is completely unacceptable for the major road between England and Scotland.'
He concluded: 'We are not going to be put off by what happened in Parliament. We are going to continue to fight because of the people who have suffered and the people who will suffer if we don't get this road put right. That is my job and that is my promise.'
Background and Fatalities
Plans to dual 13 miles of the A1 from Morpeth to Ellingham were dropped by Labour in 2024, though hopes have been raised that Andy Burnham's impending arrival into Downing Street could see them reconsidered, potentially including full dualling to the Scottish border. Official figures reveal 49 fatalities and nearly 300 serious injuries on the A1 in Northumberland over the last 20 years. In addition to the six deaths in May and June, three people died in two separate incidents in January.
Mr Lightwood, who grew up in South Shields, maintained on Wednesday that the scheme does not offer sufficient value for money and said alternative safety measures are being considered. He stated: 'I do not want to raise unrealistic expectations this evening: the Government have not reversed their decision regarding the Morpeth to Ellingham dualling scheme, nor am I announcing a replacement major capital programme tonight. However, that does not mean that nothing will happen.'
Minister Cites Ongoing Work
The minister added: 'The Government recognise, of course, the importance of the A1 in Northumberland and further afield. We recognise the concerns that continue to be expressed regarding safety, resilience and economic growth. National Highways has undertaken significant work to identify targeted improvements capable of improving safety on the route, and further work continues on wider sections of the A1 in Northumberland.'
