Business condemnsscrapping of A1 planunder transport cuts

Jonathan Reed

BUSINESS leaders have condemned the scrapping of a scheme to widen the A1 in North Yorkshire and branded the decision “very confusing”.

The upgrade of the A1 between Leeming and Barton is a victim of Government cuts, with Transport Secretary Philip Hammond saying money should not be wasted on “schemes that will never happen”.

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Widening of the road further south, from Dishforth to Leeming, is already under way and will be completed but the next phase – due to start in 2014 – has been cancelled.

Nick Pontone, policy director of Yorkshire and Humber Chambers of Commerce, said: “This part of the A1 is the ‘missing link’ in the a vital north-south trade route for Yorkshire. A quarter of its traffic is heavy goods vehicles and this investment would have reduced congestion and made journeys more reliable which is crucial for this commercial traffic.

“Scrapping the scheme is not only a major blow but is a waste of the money already spent on developing the scheme. The decision to make this one of the few schemes to be axed altogether is very confusing in view of the existing investment in the route north of Dishforth.”

Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh questioned the decision in Parliament and will press Mr Hammond on it again today.

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However, Mr Hammond replied: “I do not want to encourage further spending on schemes that have no realistic prospect of going forward within the next 10 years, as that money could be spent on live schemes and getting work done rather than on people sitting in Highways Agency offices designing and redesigning schemes that will never happen.”

North Yorkshire County Council leader John Weighell: “It isn't particularly unexpected in this time, because of the current funding situation, but I view it with a certain disappointment.”

Comment: Page 12.

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