The Conservatives have said they will set out a position on plans to dual the A1 “in due course”, but the leader of the opposition’s office has declined to make a commitment at this stage.
The response came after Berwick councillor Georgina Hill contacted Kemi Badenoch’s office to ask what the party’s current position was. The previous Conservative Government had approved plans to dual 13 miles of the road between Morpeth and Ellingham, but the announcement came after a general election had been called, and the plans were subsequently scrapped by Labour after being deemed poor value for money.
Response from the Leader’s Office
In a letter to Coun Hill, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesman for Ms Badenoch said: “On the A1, I am afraid I am not able to set out a position on individual schemes at this stage.
“Our transport programme is still being developed ahead of the next election and I would not want to give you an answer this office could not stand behind. What I can tell you is the direction of travel.
“In Government we announced Network North, a £36 billion plan to improve connectivity across the Midlands and the North, including £8.3 billion for local authorities to repair the roads most in need of it. Since then, Labour’s first Budget scrapped five road improvement schemes, and the Road Haulage Association described the Spending Review settlement for the Strategic and Local Road Networks as a real terms cut.
“Road investment in the North is not something we are relaxed about. Your question has been noted by the Leader’s Office, however, and we will endeavour to set out a position on this in due course.”
Councillor’s reaction and wider campaign
Coun Hill revealed she had contacted all major opposition parties to find out their position on the A1, but only the Tories have responded at this stage. She said: “Like most people, I am cynical about the political posturing over the decades around the A1 and doubtful that it will ever happen. It is also important to remember that what has been in discussion, and formed an eve of general election pledge, is only a 13 miles stretch of the road – not anywhere close to Berwick.
“I have seen a lot of politics played out over the years and I thought it would be useful to establish the other parties and potential next Prime Ministers positions. Only the main Tory opposition have responded and the response from Kemi Badenoch’s office was sensible and honest – but let nobody pretend that any political party’s current position is to dual even that 13 mile stretch.”
The comments come after Prime Minister Andy Burnham made positive remarks about reopening the case for the scheme. Speaking in Westminster, the new PM said he would ask the Transport Secretary to work with colleagues at Number 10 North to “see what can be done” to bring forward “a new way” of delivering the “much-needed infrastructure”.
Conservative council leader Glen Sanderson said it was important to keep party politics out of the debate. He said: “I have tried, and been relatively successful, in reigniting the A1 dualling campaign. Everything I say is non-political at this stage and I hope we can all have the same attitude.
“We have to stop the back biting and the you said he said. All councillors are entitled to do whatever they want and email whoever they want, but I am only interested in getting this road dualled.”
Calls to dual the road have grown louder in recent months following a string of serious accidents which has seen a number of tragic fatalities this year. The Government has already committed to safety improvements on the A1 in Northumberland as part of the Road Investment Strategy. The Chronicle and Journal are heading a new campaign to dual the A1, and has brought together a coalition of political, business and community leaders to support that call after a number of recent deaths on the road.
