Brown rejects huge petition for A1 dualling

May 15 2008 by William Green, The Journal

GORDON Brown has rejected calls from thousands of people in the North East to fully dual the A1 through Northumberland to boost safety and economic development.

Downing Street has sparked anger for its “limp response” after saying the Government has no current plans to fully dual the A1 north of Morpeth in response to 6,566 people who signed an online petition posted on the Prime Minister’s website.

In a further blow, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton has insisted the A1 north of Newcastle is not busy enough to be classified as a route of strategic national importance – which would provide access to vital additional Whitehall funding.

But the minister admitted the threshold for national road classification was met south of the A1/A19 Seaton Burn junction and agreed transport is vital for economic development.

No major upgrades are currently planned for the A1 Western Bypass either, Ms Winterton has said in a letter responding to concerns raised by Blaydon MP Dave Anderson.

She also sparked concerns about when any improvements will happen after revealing that a new approach on transport planning is being developed for 2014-19 and beyond.

Andrew Sugden, from the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “Gordon Brown certainly does have his hands full if this is the best he can come up with.

“Such a limp response for the thousands who petitioned from across Scotland and the North of England shows that economic growth outside the already prosperous South East simply isn’t being taken seriously.”

Campaigner Kenneth Patterson, who started the petition, said: “I am just very disappointed that Gordon Brown doesn’t want anything to do with it.”

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson called on the Government to make real progress and set out a realistic timetable for action.

He also claimed the Government had sufficient cash for road improvements because it was getting huge additional tax revenues through the rocketing price of oil.

Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick, said: “Rosie Winterton is missing the point that the crucial need is to ensure that the North East is part of a basic national dual carriageway network.

“Gaps in the A1 still mean it isn’t and limits development and regeneration of the region.”

What the petition says and the government's reply

THE A1 petition said: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to upgrade the A1 to dual carriageway between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Morpeth. As the major road into Scotland, the A1 should be dualled.

"The amount of traffic is destroying the single carriageway and it is falling into major disrepair due to lack of maintenance. Money is wasted on repairing a road in major need of a total overhaul.

"Money is wasted on yet more lay-bys and so-called safety measures which only frustrate motorists into taking chances due to the traffic having to go so slowly.

"We have to travel at 40mph on certain sections because the lorries are restricted and because of the state of the road. The road should be upgraded to make it safer and to bring more business to the area."

But Downing Street’s response was: "The Government have no current plans to upgrade the A1 north of Morpeth to full dual- carriageway status.

"Schemes, previously in preparation, to dual discrete sections of the route could be brought forward if the region awards them priority in future regional funding rounds.

"The A1 is routinely maintained to the same high standard as all other trunk roads. Safety improvements undertaken in recent years, have led to an overall reduction in accidents."