Brown fails to support key North transport upgrades
Jul 4 2008 by William Green, The Journal
September deadline for bypass report
HIGHWAY bosses have been ordered to complete a crunch report on the future of the congested A1 Western Bypass by September, The Journal can reveal.
Transport Minister Tom Harris has told Blaydon MP Dave Anderson he wants the report by mid-September with a view to holding a public consultation on any proposals next March.
The news comes after ministers faced a furious backlash last year after it emerged that a Highways Agency report on the A1 would not be published for two years with major upgrades unlikely before 2015.
The agency has previously said it expected to make its proposals public in 2009, subject to ministers’ agreement.
Those plans could look at three lanes, junctions and capacity needs across a 26km corridor – although careful modelling was required and talks under way with Tyne and Wear councils conducting a congestion study to understand the implications.
Speaking to The Journal, Mr Anderson said the transport minister had been "apologetic" over the situation in a meeting this week and ordered a report on a stretch of the A1 from the Angel of the North to Seaton Burn.
"He is happy to have a report by mid-September and hoping that it will form part of a public consultation which would take place in the spring of next year," added the Labour MP.
Mr Anderson said: "It is a vital link in the area and the latest figures we have are that it is 178% above capacity and anybody that uses the road will tell you it is a nightmare."
But he expressed concern the report may not have enough information about the impact on local roads and the minister not having that material.
Mr Anderson said he and the minister would now contact the local authorities about the issue.
Andrew Sugden, from the North East Chamber of Commerce, said anybody interested in regional economic development wanted "decisive action" on the A1. "The big concern for us is whatever steps there are, is that there is some real action. This will be the umpteenth consultants’ report on this road," he added.
Newcastle City Council said it had challenged the Government over the project’s timescale and wanted it completed within seven years.
A spokesman added detailed negotiations would begin with ministers in September over a new "multi-area agreement" with Tyne and Wear councils and the Government, with the public’s views fully taken into account.
