TRANSPORT campaigners are hoping to convince the Government it could upgrade dangerous and congested North roads for far less than those in other UK regions.

Ministers have been told the cost of bringing vital North East roads such as the A1 up to minimum safety standards, which campaigners say would include dualling, would be the equivalent of just £7 per person.

For the South West, the most expensive region, the figure rises to £17, according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation and the RAC Foundation.

The findings come as the Government confirmed it would make the A1 from Newcastle to the Scottish border a route of strategic national importance.

The move means it can now compete against other infrastructure projects for a slice of central Government cash.

But other transport projects in the region, including work on congested roundabouts along the A19 in Tyneside, have been put on hold after ministers insisted there was not enough cash for local projects.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a former Berwick parliamentary candidate who has campaigned for A1 upgrades, said the task now was to prepare a detailed argument ready to convince ministers why the A1 deserves more cash than other schemes.

She said: “I’m aware that transport secretary Philip Hammond changed the criteria used to decide who gets what money. They were previously very highly focused on congestion and he has said he wants that changed to reflect other factors.

“What he has said is that he wants factors which help generate inward investment reflected heavily in the new criteria for road infrastructure investment.