The deputy leader of Northumberland County Council has pledged to continue the campaign to dual the A1 in the county despite the Government deeming the plans “poor value for money”.
The project to dual 13 miles of the key road between Morpeth and Ellingham was scrapped in October, with Labour describing the plans as “unfunded”. The Department for Transport has said the project would have cost more than £500 million.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting of the county council, deputy leader Coun Richard Wearmouth said the Conservative-led administration had met with National Highways bosses in the wake of the disappointment.
He said: “We did hold a meeting with National Highways. I did express just how severely disappointed we were, and our residents were, about the failure to progress with dualling the A1.
“We’re not considered to be value for money by this Government. That is a crying shame and we will be lobbying to reverse the decision.
“If you look at the development consent given by the Conservative Government, it says that the Secretary of State is satisfied that the funding is available from Network North. There was funding available.”
Coun Wearmouth also revealed he had asked for officials to keep the door open on the project in any way possible.
He added: “I did request that everything possible as done to preserve the progress that has been made to date so that, once Labour lose the next election, we can get on with the work at hand. This includes us getting a copy of all the work that has been done so nobody can say it has been lost and we don’t have to start again.
“I have asked what can be done to keep the planning permission open and I have asked for a commitment to work with Northumberland County Council and the Combined Authority to keep land rights and land ownership secure so we can complete the work and protect the route.
“The council’s updated local plan will safeguard the route and make it more straight forward in the future.”
The previous Conservative Government gave the green light for the plans in May, having previously delayed the decision a number of times. The timing of the move was criticised due to the fact a General Election – which polling correctly suggested the Tories would lose – had already been called.
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