'Surprise and disappointment' at A1 dualling announcement

05 Sep 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

The Council has expressed 'disappointment and surprise' that a decision on further dualling of the A1 in Northumberland has been pushed back again. 

Council Leader Glen Sanderson believes dualling the Morpeth to Ellingham stretch of the road would benefit the county and the wider region for generations to come - and has pledged to continue lobbying for the go-ahead next year.  

Councillor Sanderson said: “Having been involved with so many others campaigning to see this road dualled I am not just disappointed but surprised at today's announcement - so much preparation has taken place and money already spent - it seems to me the wrong conclusion to reach.

"That said, the door is still open and I will continue to lobby the Government for the sake of everyone who uses this road - the residents, the businesses and the many tourists who visit us each year.

"There should not be a line on a map which decides who gets how much to spend on roads.

"Thousands of vehicles use the road and pay very large amounts of road tax - they deserve and must have a road for the age in which we live - not one from the 1950s.

"And while we know money is tight, so while committing to the whole scheme may not be possible at this time, I would have expected we could get going with smaller sections of the project to at least make some progress.

"I will be speaking to the Secretary of State at the first opportunity to push hard to get this hugely important scheme moving forward.”