Prime Minister Andy Burnham's latest comments on the A1 have sparked a wave of optimism that the case for dualling the road could be reconsidered. Speaking during a visit to Newcastle on Wednesday, Burnham said the Government would look to see if there was an 'alternative way' of putting together the necessary funding for the scheme.
Decades-long campaign for dualling
Campaigners have been calling for the stretch of the road between Morpeth and Berwick to be dualled in its entirety for decades. While plans to dual 13 miles of the route between Morpeth and Ellingham were scrapped in 2024, there have been renewed calls this year following a string of tragic accidents that has seen six people lose their lives.
Burnham admitted that the level of transport infrastructure in the North East was 'not fair' compared to other parts of the country and that officials would work alongside North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to see if there is an 'alternative way' to put a funding package together.
Funding challenges and local reaction
The Ellingham scheme was scrapped as Treasury officials felt the £500 million cost was 'unaffordable'. Northumberland County Council has committed £20,000 to fund evidence gathering to support the case as the number of accidents continues to rise.
Reacting to the Prime Minister's comments, the Conservative leader of the council Glen Sanderson said he felt 'optimistic'. Sanderson said: 'We have heard a lot of words in the past from lots of different people, but that is no reason not to feel optimistic and give it all we have got. I think it is fair to say that the way I am working with Kim McGuinness is very important. She's very supportive of getting this job done for all of the various reasons that we know. There have been false dawns in the past, but one thing I'm not going to do is play the blame game - I just want to keep focused on the job in hand and working with the Mayor. Hopefully, when we complete the work we are doing we will have more evidence and a more compelling case for dualling.'
The Chronicle and Journal are heading a new campaign to dual the A1 after a number of recent deaths on the road. A petition to dual the A1 launched alongside the campaign has now secured more than 3,700 signatures.
Political leaders weigh in
Northumberland Labour leader Coun Scott Dickinson also welcomed the news. He said: 'I felt our best opportunity was with the new Prime Minister, because he is from the north, he has worked up here, he comes up here and he has a good relationship with Kim and myself. This is the time for Northumberland and the north east to get its fair share of what often seems to be a London-driven system. These kind of comments would not be said if people didn't have a plan that the Prime Minister and the Mayor are looking at to drive forward with safety and dualling upgrades. Finally, it seems like somebody is going to take this seriously.'
The council's Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Isabel Hunter, who represents the Berwick West with Ord ward and has long called for the road to be dualled, was positive about the Prime Minister's comments but also urged caution. She said: 'I don't want false promises, I want action. We need action, we can't have any more lives lost. I'm hoping the Prime Minister will do something because we need something done. I look forward to that funding package coming forward and actually seeing the spades in the ground and the diggers on the side. I'm not going to hold my breath, but if he's driven the road and found the awkwardness we all know about, he might do something about it. This is the most positive words we have had for a wee while, but I'm still cautious - he needs to find the money.'
The Government says National Highways is currently considering targeted safety improvements to the route as part of the third Road Investment Strategy, covering investment in the Strategic Road Network from 2026-2031.
