Councillors in Northumberland have warned that a lack of action on A1 improvements in the county is putting pressure on the surrounding road network. It comes after two multi-car collisions on the A697 in the space of two days.
On Sunday, four people were taken to hospital after a three-vehicle crash on the road, which runs parallel to the A1 from Morpeth up to Wooler, near to the junction of the B6341 between Rothbury and Edlingham, known locally as the Moor House Crossroads. Then on Monday afternoon, seven people were treated at the scene of another three-vehicle collision at the same location.
Major disruption on key routes
The incident on Monday happened an hour after a three-vehicle collision on the A1 near Felton, which saw the road closed in both directions and two patients hospitalised. The two accidents caused major disruption with two of the major routes between the north and south of the county blocked.
Coun Steven Bridgett, who represents the Rothbury ward on the county council, has previously called for improvements on the road. Traffic has increased in recent years as more and more drivers seek an alternative route to the A1, which suffers from severe congestion at peak times.
Councillor calls for action
Coun Bridgett said: "What we are finding and what we're seeing is an increasing amount of traffic using the A697 as an alternative to the A1. This is a recent problem. There are parts that could be improved. We have seen two accidents in the space of two days between Longframlington and the Moor House Crossroads.
"Last year, there were over a dozen heading up to Wooler. It's quite worrying the number of accidents we are seeing. The council has to have a real look at the A697 and what can be done, we need to look at is as a council. I'm not laying the blame at local residents' doors because what we have found is it is people who don't know the road.
"There is a lot being said about the A1 and quite rightly - it should have been done and it is ultimately the problem, but we as a local authority have the responsibility for the A697. There are some quick wins we can do - all the accidents are in the same areas.
"With the accident on the A1 at the same time where people would usually divert, it was chaos."
Growing calls to dual the A1
Calls to dual the A1 have been growing louder in recent months after a string of accidents including a number where people lost their lives. There have been five major accidents on the road in Northumberland in the past month alone.
The Government has committed to carrying out safety improvements along the road as part of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS). However, officials are sticking resolutely to the 2024 decision to scrap plans to dual 13 miles of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham. It was deemed that the £500 million cost was too expensive.
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. A petition to dual the A1 launched alongside our campaign has now secured more than 3,700 signatures.
The leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson, said Monday was a "difficult day" following the two crashes. Coun Sanderson, who represents the area as part of the Longhorsley ward, was also concerned about the pressure on the A697.
He said: "The A1 is simply inadequate for the level of traffic it is carrying. It is a disgrace to Britain's road network.
"People are naturally looking for diversions as a result. That means either taking short cuts through local villages like Felton or taking the A697, which is completely unsuitable for the level of traffic.
"These villages are defenceless against the level of traffic and speed. Until the A1 is fit for purpose, traffic will naturally use these roads and they are completely unsuitable.
"The lack of action puts even more pressure on the county council. We have to maintain the A697 with no extra money - it's bad news all round."
Asked about safety improvements on the A697, Coun Sanderson added: "We are investigating the possibility of putting in average speed cameras for the section from Longhorsley up to Wooler and beyond. That is going to be something we have to do.
"That will at least slow down the traffic. We have got money in the budget, which we agreed earlier this year, to carry out these investigations in the same kind of speed cameras that are on the A69, which will reduce the traffic and speeds."
