The decision on whether to dual the A1 in Northumberland remains with central Government despite major new cash handed to regional mayors. In what has been billed as the largest transfer of power and money out of Westminster in a generation English mayors, including the North East’s Kim McGuinness, will be able to keep a share of the taxes collected in their area.
The new proposals have been put forward by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with further details expected to be unveiled in the autumn. The new PM, who was mayor of Greater Manchester for almost a decade, had promised to take power ‘out of Westminster and into every postcode’.
A1 dualling
But the new money will not allow the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority to push ahead with the A1 dualling scheme. Ms McGuinness has backed the plans and pledged to lobby Government in order to deliver the scheme, which was scrapped under Keir Starmer in 2024.
Just dualling 13 miles of the road between Morpeth and Ellingham would cost more than £500 million, with the total cost of dualling the entire road to the Scottish Border likely to run into the billions.
Asked whether the new money would allow the mayor to push ahead, a spokeswoman for the mayoral authority said: “The announcement today does not change things on the A1.
“The control and management of the national road network – motorways and trunk roads – remains with the government.”
The previous Conservative Government had given the Morpeth to Ellingham leg the green light prior to the General Election. However, the timing of the decision was heavily criticised, coming with the party lagging in the polls and after a number of lengthy delays.
The Labour Government then scrapped the scheme in 2024, claiming it was unfunded and unaffordable. However, increasing traffic and a spate of fatal collisions on the road this year have seen calls to carry out the long-awaited upgrades reignite.
McGuinness penned a joint letter to ministers alongside the Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council Glen Sanderson calling for the decision to be reconsidered.
The new policy
The Mayor has said the new policy will allow her to ”do more to support hard-pressed families through things like cheaper Mayor’s Fares and childcare grants”.
She added: “It means we can grow the Metro and rail network, build more council homes and open youth clubs to give young people the opportunities they deserve regardless of their background.”
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