The long-saga of the A1 dualling project has taken another twist as the Government is moving to officially revoke the approval that would have allowed for the dualling of a stretch of the road in Northumberland. Labour announced last October that it was scrapping a long-planned upgrade to the busy route having deemed it “unfunded and unaffordable”, sparking outrage among campaigners.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander served notice she will quash the development consent order (DCO) that was granted for the scheme in the Conservatives’ final weeks in power at Westminster.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was “exploring solutions” for other changes that could be made on the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham. Alexander said the dualling scheme was “poor value of money”, with its estimated cost having risen from £290m in 2014 to more than half a billion pounds.

The DfT did not give details of what any other improvements might be or how long they might take to implement. A spokesperson did say:

“Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we had to make difficult decisions. National Highways is now exploring solutions for this section of the A1 that could improve safety and congestion while offering value for money to the taxpayer.”

Northumberland Council’s Conservative deputy leader Richard Wearmouth said the act of pulling it “feels needless and spiteful”.

“I will be discussing with officers at the council what options are available to challenge the revocation next week,” he added. “My hope, no matter how forlorn, is that somehow at least the work done and progress made will not be entirely reversed as Labour are currently directing.”

(Pic: Mapillary)