MP Beith slams Minister's rejection of A1 cash calls

12.00.00pm GMT Thu 3rd Dec 2009

Sir Alan Beith MP is campaigning with Fiona Hall MEP to get the last single-carriageway stretches of the A1 upgraded.

Following the Transport Minister's rejection of calls for cash to upgrade deadly sections of the A1 in Northumberland, Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has accused the Government of dodging responsibility for the route.

Sir Alan said

"Yet again the Minister is passing the buck to an unelected regional body for what is a nationally strategic road. The very fact that so many of the serious accidents involve drivers from the other end of the country of from abroad demonstrates people's belief they are on a nationally strategic road and failing to realise parts of it are not dual carriageway."

Lord Adonis has reportedly hit back at claims that the road should be reclassified as a route of national strategic importance because there is insufficient traffic using the route.

The issue of the A1 was raised again following remarks by the North Northumberland coroner Tony Brown, who described the A1 from Morpeth to Berwick as the "weakest link" on the London to Edinburgh road at an inquest following a head-on crash in February 2009 which led to two fatalities.

Sir Alan Beith added

"There has been some progress on the road over the years but we need a firm commitment to the upgrade of sections to get the work completed. I'll continue to push for a commitment to this upgrade."