This story has been in the news for about twenty years or more. Every so often "something seems to be about to happen" or (as on this occasion) a tragedy on the road leads to someone "calling for something to happen". This story is likely to run-and-run (unlike the road) for a long time, so I think it deserves its own thread . .
Fresh calls for action after series of tragedies
Nov 30 2009 by David Black, The Journal
FRUSTRATED politicians are to renew demands for full dualling of the killer A1 through Northumberland – although the chances of major improvements in the next 10 years appear increasingly remote.
The long-running issue of upgrading the Morpeth to Berwick section of the road – described yesterday as an “absolute national scandal” by a senior councillor – has resurfaced following critical comments made last week by north Northumberland coroner Tony Brown.
Speaking after inquests into two accidents which claimed the lives of three drivers on single-lane stretches of the road, he said further preventable deaths were inevitable unless the 45-mile stretch was made continuous dual carriageway.
Amble fisherman Alan Gair died a year ago when his car was hit by a lorry driven by a Dutch driver, who was overtaking a slow-moving crane on a single-lane section near Belford.
Then Embleton man Ian Thompson, and David Clarkson from London, were killed in a smash in February, when Mr Clarkson pulled out from a line of traffic on the single-carriageway Felton bypass.
Mr Brown said the common factor in both accidents was a driver from outside the area who was not used to the lower standard of the road in Northumberland. He branded the section as the “weakest link” in the A1 between London and Edinburgh, and called for investment to prevent further fatalities.
Plans were drawn up years ago for dualling schemes at both Belford and the Morpeth to Felton stretch, but neither has gone ahead because of a lack of money.
In addition, A1 dualling north of Morpeth was not included by the North East Interim Regional Transport Board in its latest submission for Government funding, which covers the period up to 2019.
Yesterday Berwick MP Alan Beith said he would be raising the coroner’s comments with ministers, but said the A1 in Northumberland was caught between the Government’s refusal to classify it as a national strategic route and limited funding for regional schemes.
“Both of the accidents referred to by the coroner happened on sections where dualling schemes were drawn up in the past. These are schemes which should have gone ahead, and still need to. Motorists travelling from other parts of the country tend to assume that the A1 is dual carriageway throughout its length, and drive as though it is.
“The reality is that it is going to be an ongoing annual battle to get sections of the A1 dualled, and we have to address the economic case as much as the safety issue.”
County council leader Jeff Reid said: “The state of the A1 in Northumberland is an absolute national scandal and disgrace. It is a tragedy for the families involved in these accidents that the Government doesn’t listen to the safety argument.
“We have got the issue back on the regional agenda and at every opportunity we will push for dualling of the whole road. We have to focus on the economic argument in terms of jobs, tourism and connectivity.”
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “The A1 north of Newcastle is a regional road, which means any proposals to upgrade it are a matter for the Interim Regional Transport Board, which has to decide on priorities for the North East.
“The latest list of transport priorities submitted to ministers by the RTB this year did not include the A1 in Northumberland. It is open to the RTB to submit amended advice to us at any time.”
These are schemes which should have gone ahead, and still need to
Fresh calls for action after series of tragedies
Nov 30 2009 by David Black, The Journal
FRUSTRATED politicians are to renew demands for full dualling of the killer A1 through Northumberland – although the chances of major improvements in the next 10 years appear increasingly remote.
The long-running issue of upgrading the Morpeth to Berwick section of the road – described yesterday as an “absolute national scandal” by a senior councillor – has resurfaced following critical comments made last week by north Northumberland coroner Tony Brown.
Speaking after inquests into two accidents which claimed the lives of three drivers on single-lane stretches of the road, he said further preventable deaths were inevitable unless the 45-mile stretch was made continuous dual carriageway.
Amble fisherman Alan Gair died a year ago when his car was hit by a lorry driven by a Dutch driver, who was overtaking a slow-moving crane on a single-lane section near Belford.
Then Embleton man Ian Thompson, and David Clarkson from London, were killed in a smash in February, when Mr Clarkson pulled out from a line of traffic on the single-carriageway Felton bypass.
Mr Brown said the common factor in both accidents was a driver from outside the area who was not used to the lower standard of the road in Northumberland. He branded the section as the “weakest link” in the A1 between London and Edinburgh, and called for investment to prevent further fatalities.
Plans were drawn up years ago for dualling schemes at both Belford and the Morpeth to Felton stretch, but neither has gone ahead because of a lack of money.
In addition, A1 dualling north of Morpeth was not included by the North East Interim Regional Transport Board in its latest submission for Government funding, which covers the period up to 2019.
Yesterday Berwick MP Alan Beith said he would be raising the coroner’s comments with ministers, but said the A1 in Northumberland was caught between the Government’s refusal to classify it as a national strategic route and limited funding for regional schemes.
“Both of the accidents referred to by the coroner happened on sections where dualling schemes were drawn up in the past. These are schemes which should have gone ahead, and still need to. Motorists travelling from other parts of the country tend to assume that the A1 is dual carriageway throughout its length, and drive as though it is.
“The reality is that it is going to be an ongoing annual battle to get sections of the A1 dualled, and we have to address the economic case as much as the safety issue.”
County council leader Jeff Reid said: “The state of the A1 in Northumberland is an absolute national scandal and disgrace. It is a tragedy for the families involved in these accidents that the Government doesn’t listen to the safety argument.
“We have got the issue back on the regional agenda and at every opportunity we will push for dualling of the whole road. We have to focus on the economic argument in terms of jobs, tourism and connectivity.”
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “The A1 north of Newcastle is a regional road, which means any proposals to upgrade it are a matter for the Interim Regional Transport Board, which has to decide on priorities for the North East.
“The latest list of transport priorities submitted to ministers by the RTB this year did not include the A1 in Northumberland. It is open to the RTB to submit amended advice to us at any time.”
These are schemes which should have gone ahead, and still need to