An MP has vowed to close more “dangerous crossings” on the A1. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she is working with National Highways for more of the central reservations to be closed at Great Ponton to reduce the number of accidents there.

Mrs Kearns spoke about her priorities for the year ahead, which also include continuing to push for Rutland to be granted ceremonial status and for the creation of a banking hub in Stamford, reports Lincolnshire Live.

The MP said that while 13 of the central reservation crossings on the A1 have already been closed, she is working to have more shut to make the road safer.

She added: “My next point is how do we get more of them closed and that takes us on a long journey. It’s not going to be quick or easy and there’s obviously no funding being made available from the government.

“All the way up to the next stage is how do we sort the Great Ponton crossing? We all know that Great Ponton is the most dangerous. You’ve got four junctions across the A1.

“Anyone who has driven past and has seen a trailer going across or a HGV (heavy goods vehicle) or someone carrying a horsecarriage, or anything like that, or even just lots of cars stacked up, knows it’s horrible to drive.” Mrs Kearns said she put out a consultation to residents in Great Ponton in September last year asking them for their views on how to tackle the issue.

She added that the consultation has now closed and she will provide National Highways with the responses to help inform its recommendations. Mrs Kearns continued: “But then we have got to somehow get the money from the government and it’s not going to be cheap.

“Essentially, this is a long-term thing that I’ve got to keep fighting and campaigning for. I’ve got to take the case to the government, but I want to take it to the government with National Highways saying ‘we agree with Alicia, that’s what we need to do’”.

(Picture: Mapillary)