Fresh calls for dualling of A1

Oct 20 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

A NEW campaign group has urged Scottish and Westminster decision-makers to back calls to dual the A1.

The cross-party action group has warned the risk of another fatal accident will continue to be “unacceptably high” as long as the two Governments hold-off investing in the road upgrade.

Politicians and business leaders have teamed up to renew the call – launched by The Journal on September 24, 1990 – for potentially life-saving investment, which they say would also strengthen the regional economy. The fresh call comes after Alan Gair, 37, of Amble, died when his car was in a head-on collision with a lorry on single carriageway, near Belford.

Chairman Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the group had already received letters from friends of Mr Gair backing the campaign. Ms Trevelyan, Conservative candidate for Berwick, said “This is the sort of support which will keep me driving the campaign forward even if we get knock backs initially from Government. This issue must grow in the public consciousness across the UK, until Westminster politicians can ignore it no longer.”

The campaign meeting saw transport officers from both sides of the border present evidence suggesting the road would only be dualled when both Scotland and English decision-makers were behind the effort.

Ms Trevelyan said: “Governments at both Westminster and at Holyrood have shown little interest in improving this important road. From an economic regeneration and road safety perspective, the time has now come for this attitude to change.

“The A1 is of huge significance, not only for the North East and Border regions but also to the whole country. The A1 is one of the main routes linking Scotland and England.”

John Lamont, MSP for Roxburgh & Berwickshire, has given his support to the group, as has Alan Ferguson, executive chairman of Fergusons Transport.

The group has claimed cross-party support and was attended by Northumberland’s deputy executive member for Highways Dougie Watkin.

The Lib Dem councillor said: “We have argued relentlessly that the A1 should be dualled along its full length between Newcastle and Edinburgh and I hope this cross party group will show the A1 issue concerns all parties.” But Mr Watkin has pointed out that so far the two main political parties both have questions to answer over the route.

“The Conservatives’ broken promise to dual the A1 from Newcastle to Edinburgh in 1992 and Labour’s downgrading of the route in 2005 can hopefully be replaced by a genuine cross-party effort towards this essential work,” he said.

The A1 Campaign Group will next meet on Friday, November 14, at 7pm in the Green Room, of the Parish Church in Berwick.

For more information contact Anne-Marie Trevelyan at anne-marie@berwickconservatives.com  or by phone on 07970 653258.

To have your say on the A1 campaign on our forums, click here.