MediaResponding to a further delay to dualling the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham, Sam Richards founder and campaign director of Britain Remade, said:
“After 9 years of dither, this further delay to dualling the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham is a devastating blow for the people of Northumberland, the wider North East of England, and the whole of Britain.
“This stretch of the A1 is one of the few parts of Britain’s longest road that is still a single lane - causing traffic chaos for everyone that relies on it. Dualling is crucial for cutting congestion and journey times between Newcastle and Edinburgh, while boosting growth and local jobs.
“Delaying this decision by a further 9 months will cost the region and the country dearly.
“There is still time for Mark Harper the Transport Secretary to do the right thing and pick up his pen, today, and sign the consent order – delivering on the promise made all those years ago by David Cameron.
“If we want to tackle climate change the answer is not kicking major road building schemes into the long grass or cutting them altogether.
“Instead of delaying major road building projects, we need to crack on with schemes like the A1 and line them with a plentiful supply of charging stations to make it easier for drivers to switch to clean electric vehicles.”