PM visit sparks optimism for A1 dualling scheme

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's comments on the A1 have sparked a wave of optimism that the case for dualling a stretch of the road could be reconsidered.

Speaking on a visit to Newcastle on Wednesday, Burnham told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the government would look to see if there was an "alternative way" of putting together the necessary funding for the scheme.

Campaigners have been calling for the stretch between Morpeth and Berwick in Northumberland to be dualled for decades.

Plans to dual 13 miles (21km) between Morpeth and Ellingham were scrapped in 2024, but there has been renewed calls following a string of accidents in which six people lost their lives.

The Ellingham scheme was scrapped as Treasury officials felt the £500m cost was unaffordable.

Northumberland County Council has committed £20,000 to fund evidence gathering to support the case as the number of accidents continues to rise.

Burnham admitted that the level of transport infrastructure in the region was "not fair" compared to other parts of the country, and that officials would work alongside North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to look into whether a funding package can be put together.

The Labour mayor said there were "encouraging noises" from Burnham's administration about the A1 following intense cross-party lobbying from local leaders.

"I have told everybody who will listen that it needs to be dualled - and dualled with urgency," she said.

"The previous government left us in a position where they had made a promise and not funded it. That is really difficult when people just want to see that road, which is becoming a national embarrassment and is becoming dangerous, dealt with.

"I have been really clear that this has got to be a priority for the region. He has encouraged us to put the case forward and make sure it is part of the plans for the North East.

"We are hearing encouraging noises coming out of government and I am going to get on with that urgently because it needs to happen."

Conservative leader of the council Glen Sanderson said he felt "optimistic".

"We have heard a lot of words in the past from lots of different people, but that is no reason not to feel optimistic and give it all we have got," he said.

"There have been false dawns in the past, but one thing I'm not going to do is play the blame game - I just want to keep focused on the job in hand.

"Hopefully, when we complete the work we are doing we will have more evidence and a more compelling case for dualling."

Liberal Democrat leader Isabel Hunter, who represents the Berwick West with Ord ward, has long called for the road to be dualled.

While she was positive about the comments, Hunter said she would not "hold her breath".

"I don't want false promises, I want action. We need action, we can't have any more lives lost.

"This is the most positive words we have had for a while, but I'm still cautious – he needs to find the money."

The government said National Highways was considering targeted safety improvements to the route as part of the third Road Investment Strategy, covering investment in the Strategic Road Network from 2026-2031.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds.