Scepticism remains as Rishi Sunak promises Blyth relief road
A former council leader remains sceptical about a Blyth Relief Road project becoming reality despite the Prime Minister name-checking the route in a speech.
The Prime Minister announced £460m to guarantee the delivery of 21 road schemes and the launch of a £1bn roads fund in the North to fund new schemes such as the Blyth[1] Relief Road at the Conservative Party[2] Conference on Wednesday. But Coun Jeff Reid, who led Northumberland County Council's[3] Liberal Democrat[4] administration between 2008 and 2013, said he was "not impressed" by Rishi Sunak's[5] Government.
This was despite the PM including the relief road in a list of projects that would receive funding after the controversial scrapping of the £36bn northern leg of HS2. The news has been welcomed by the area's Conservative politicians - but Coun Reid, who represents Blyth's Plessey ward - remained unconvinced.
The proposed relief road was conceived in 2015, with the two main roads into Blyth - Cowpen Road and Laverock Hall Road - heavily congested on a daily basis. The project would see the realignment and dualling of the existing A1061 Laverock Hall Road to provide a direct dual carriageway connection between the A192 Three Horseshoes Roundabout and the A193 South Beach.
Referencing the Britishvolt saga at nearby Cambois[6], Coun Reid said: "I'm totally unimpressed with Rishi Sunak's Government.
"Somebody standing there saying it is going to get done is like saying we're going to have the battery factory. We're not - it's already failed.
"The people of Blyth and Blyth Valley take all of this with a pinch of salt, because words are cheap and roads are expensive. It's a long way off."
However, council leader Glen Sanderson welcomed the news. He said: "I’m absolutely delighted. I think it’s very important - there’s no denying that the projects like the Blyth Relief Road and getting the A1 upgrade done are incredibly important.
"It will build on all the work we’re doing in Blyth. It’s crucial spending and support we’re getting and I thoroughly appreciate that. Hopefully we will see more in the future, but I’m very pleased.
“The Blyth Relief Road will bring huge benefits for the town and wider connectivity to the raft of new developments taking place in the area. A lot of work is already taking place planning for this new road and this is a great boost.”
This was echoed by Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy, and praised the Prime Minister for scrapping HS2.
He said: "I applaud the Prime Minister’s courage to make this decision – the facts have changed and so the decision must change. I have been making the case for the Blyth Relief Road for some time now and I’m really delighted that the Prime Minister has included it in his speech.
"These major investments in transport in the North will make lives better for so many more people than HS2 could ever have done. The Government are delivering for both private and public transport users with major investments in roads, passenger rail services and buses.
"We must not forget that all of this comes on the back of the major investment in the Northumberland[7] Line which is being built now and will connect South East Northumberland to Tyneside next year.”
References
- ^ Blyth (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Conservative Party (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Northumberland County Council's (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Liberal Democrat (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Rishi Sunak's (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Cambois (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
- ^ Northumberland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)