Council backs plans to 'dual' A1

Government proposals to add an extra lane to the A1 in Northumberland have been welcomed by the county council.

The Highways Agency plans to spend £80m on an eight-mile stretch of road between Morpeth and Felton.

Northumberland County Council says the move should help to reduce the number of road-related deaths.

However, the local authority is calling on the government to commit to dualling the road long before the 2012 deadline it has set.

The people of Northumberland and those who use the A1 should not have to wait until 2012 Councillor Mike Scullion

Councillor Mick Scullion, executive member for highways, said: "We have campaigned for years to dual the A1 on both safety and economic grounds.

"This section is the first part of the A1 going north with a single lane, but is still one of the busiest sections.

"I'm delighted that another section is to be dualled, but the government has to commit to doing this as soon as possible.

"The people of Northumberland and those who use the A1 should not have to wait until 2012.

Public consultation

"We will continue to lobby ministers for full dualling from Morpeth to the Scottish Borders."

The Department of Transport has agreed to dualling a section of the road between Morpeth and Felton and sections between Alnwick and Berwick during the next decade.

However, the government ruled there was not a strong enough case for a full dual carriageway.

Public consultation on the plans will be held between 23 and 27 September.