The North East Sustainable Transport coalition has claimed that efforts to make the case for dualling the A1 in Northumberland are a 'waste of money' and could be a 'distraction that will cost many more lives.' The campaign organization argues that dualling the road 'most likely will never happen' and urges officials to focus on wider safety improvements, such as average speed cameras.
Background on Fatalities and Calls for Dualling
Northumberland County Council has confirmed that officers will work on building an evidence base for dualling the A1 after a series of serious accidents that have resulted in eight deaths since the start of the year, including six in just over a month. This has reignited calls for dualling after the Government abandoned plans to do so in 2024.
Coalition's Letter to Politicians
In a letter to MPs David Smith and Joe Morris, councillors Scott Dickinson, Glen Sanderson, and Colin Ferguson, as well as North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the coalition stated that nobody has been able to make a viable case for the scheme to proceed. The letter reads: 'The loss of eight lives on the A1 in Northumberland this year is both tragic and unacceptable. No one should be killed or seriously injured while traveling. This is not an isolated issue, however. Northumberland has a serious road safety problem. Between 2021 and 2025, over 800 people were killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions in the county.'
The letter continues: 'We are concerned that many Northumberland politicians are creating the impression that dualling alone can solve safety issues on the A1 and save the Northumberland economy. If dualling were that good it would have been done already. The recent announcement that council officers will be working on the case for dualling is at best a waste of money, and at worst a distraction that will cost many more lives.'
Proposed Alternatives: Speed Cameras and Safer Infrastructure
The coalition advocates for speed limits based on 'safe system' principles to reduce collision severity, along with average speed cameras for widespread enforcement. They also call for safer crossings and cycling facilities, noting that a fifth of those killed or seriously injured are pedestrians. The letter states: 'These could be implemented right across Northumberland within a few years for a fraction of the billions that would be needed to fully dual the A1. Doing so would save far more lives, be better for the environment, and the money saved could be used for projects that - unlike A1 dualling, which National Highways judged to be poor value for money - would create a positive return for the local economy.'
Statistics on Road Casualties in Northumberland
Figures from the North East Regional Road Safety Resource show 72 deaths on Northumberland's roads between the start of 2021 and the end of May, with 773 serious injuries. The fatalities include nine pedestrians, but no cyclists. 104 pedestrians were seriously injured alongside 70 cyclists. The A1 accounts for 10 of these fatalities (13.8%) and 70 of the serious accidents (9.1%). Northumberland has over 3,200 miles of roads, of which the A1 from Seaton Burn to the Scottish Border accounts for about 60 miles, or around 1.9%.
Council Leader's Response
Responding to the letter, Northumberland County Council leader Coun Glen Sanderson said: 'I always respect other people's opinions. I am sure the points are perfectly reasonable but we do believe that ultimately, the way to make the A1 the appropriate road for its purpose is to ensure that it is up to the same standard as the rest of the A1 from London to Morpeth. It is not until you get to Northumberland that you have this mix of dual and single carriageway which is not safe and fundamentally unsuitable for the traffic it now carries and the growth we have seen in Northumberland.'
Sanderson added: 'Any other minor works are worthy of consideration, but as far as I'm concerned, the only way to make that road safe is to make it dual carriageway all the way. When the campaign began, the levels of traffic were not the same as we see today. As a result of the traffic, cars stop and it is congested. It is forcing drivers to use routes that have their own safety issues and use villages as rat runs.'
Mayoral Authority's Stance
A spokeswoman for the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority said: 'Any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many. We continue to support measures to make our region's roads better for all, including a programme of £129.5 million on safer walking and cycling schemes across the North East. Upgrading the A1 is recognised in our Local Transport Plan as a key regional transport priority both to make it safer and to grow the economy, but that would be a Government decision as it is part of the national road network. The Mayor recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport with Coun Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council to make the case for a dual carriageway where there is not yet one.'
