CALLS have been made for regeneration to be the new focus of a pressure group set up to push for the dualling of the A1 throughout Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.
ÊThe A1 Safelink Campaign has fought for the road to be upgraded for the last 20 years but large sections of the 60 mile route between Alnwick and Dunbar remain single carriageway.
ÊBerwick Borough Council is now suggesting that economic regeneration rather than safety should be put forward as the main argument for dualling.
ÊLeader, Councillor John Stephenson, said: "I would welcome a rebranding of the A1 Safelink Campaig
n because the argument is certainly more on economic grounds than safety these days, although I still believe an accident is waiting to happen if drivers are stuck behind a lorry at 40mph as they often are from Brownieside all the way to Berwick."
ÊHe revealed that several businesses sounded out about relocating to the expanded North Road Industrial Estate in Berwick had expressed reluctance because of the A1's poor transport links.
ÊHe also pointed out that Highways Agency figures show the A1 carries a higher proprtion of HGV's than any comparable route in this country.
Ê"This is an argument we need to take forward. It's important not just for Berwick but for the economy of the Borders region," said Councillor Stephenson.
ÊBerwick Borough Council, Scottish Borders Council and other members of the Border Visions group are due to discuss the way forward at their autumn meeting.
ÊThe cross-border group has previously agreed to form a lobby campaign aimed at the Scottish, Westminster and possibly European Parliements.
ÊChris Budzynski, Berwick Borough Council's environmental maintenance manager, said: "Safelink puts out the wrong message. We need to rebrand it with a different name to tie in with regeneration."
