Latest news with #RichardWearmouth
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A1 dualling hit by lack of government 'enthusiasm'
A lack of "enthusiasm" from government officials for plans to dual a stretch of the A1 saw the project "frustrated", it has been claimed. The scheme to upgrade a 13-mile (20km) section of road between Morpeth and Ellingham was cancelled by the Labour government last year due to projections which suggested it would cost more than £500m. At an event ahead of local elections on 1 May, Councillor Richard Wearmouth, deputy leader of Northumberland's Conservatives, said his own party had also acted too slowly before being replaced in government. Councillor Scott Dickinson MBE, leader of the county's Labour group, said investment criteria was "very skewed to the south" of the country. The Conservative administration gave the green light to the A1 project in May last year having previously postponed it three times. However, it was then branded "unfunded and unaffordable" after Labour came to power in July. Wearmouth, who represents Morpeth Kirkhill and is bidding for re-election, told the hustings he was "disappointed". He said: "I have to say, I didn't find an awful lot of enthusiasm from some of the civil servants. "I think they frustrated that project along the route. It should have been much faster than it was. "It wasn't down to political will. Everyone, across the political spectrum, was always asking about it. This is something Labour MPs need to watch out for. "The Labour Party minister described it as poor value for money and that is something that we see time and time again in the North East." Referring to guidance from the Treasury on appraising politics, programmes and projects in terms of their financial impact known as the Green Book test, Wearmouth added: "We need to lobby to change that." Labour's Dickinson, who represents Druridge Bay and is again standing as a candidate there, agreed. "It is very skewed to the south with population and value-for-money arrangements which often brings lots of very beneficial infrastructure projects in the North out as being poor value for money when in fact they're not. "What I would say is we are still committed to improving infrastructure in the North." Natalie Younes, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Morpeth North ward, also said she was disappointed the A1 project had "stalled". However, she explained her party would focus on "smaller-scale projects that can have a big impact - for example, improving the safety of travel east to west by improving junctions and crossings, and tackling the choke points in Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth". Haltwhistle's Reform candidate, Adam Howells, said his party would look to cut unnecessary spending if it took power. He said: "I think in general, one of the things we're looking at is going into the county council and looking at where spending is not required and where we're wasting council money." The Green Party was invited to the hustings but was unable to attend, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. It has been approached for comment. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Local elections 2025: Who is standing in my area? Who can vote in the May local elections? Northumberland County Council
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northumberland A1 dualling hit by lack of government 'enthusiasm'
A lack of "enthusiasm" from government officials for plans to dual a stretch of the A1 saw the project "frustrated", it has been scheme to upgrade a 13-mile (20km) section of road between Morpeth and Ellingham was cancelled by the Labour government last year due to projections which suggested it would cost more than £ an event ahead of local elections on 1 May, Councillor Richard Wearmouth, deputy leader of Northumberland's Conservatives, said his own party had also acted too slowly before being replaced in Scott Dickinson MBE, leader of the county's Labour group, said investment criteria was "very skewed to the south" of the country. The Conservative administration gave the green light to the A1 project in May last year having previously postponed it three it was then branded "unfunded and unaffordable" after Labour came to power in July. Green Book test Wearmouth, who represents Morpeth Kirkhill and is bidding for re-election, told the hustings he was "disappointed".He said: "I have to say, I didn't find an awful lot of enthusiasm from some of the civil servants."I think they frustrated that project along the route. It should have been much faster than it was."It wasn't down to political will. Everyone, across the political spectrum, was always asking about it. This is something Labour MPs need to watch out for."The Labour Party minister described it as poor value for money and that is something that we see time and time again in the North East."Referring to guidance from the Treasury on appraising politics, programmes and projects in terms of their financial impact known as the Green Book test, Wearmouth added: "We need to lobby to change that." 'Still committed' Labour's Dickinson, who represents Druridge Bay and is again standing as a candidate there, agreed."It is very skewed to the south with population and value-for-money arrangements which often brings lots of very beneficial infrastructure projects in the North out as being poor value for money when in fact they're not."What I would say is we are still committed to improving infrastructure in the North."Natalie Younes, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Morpeth North ward, also said she was disappointed the A1 project had "stalled".However, she explained her party would focus on "smaller-scale projects that can have a big impact - for example, improving the safety of travel east to west by improving junctions and crossings, and tackling the choke points in Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth".Haltwhistle's Reform candidate, Adam Howells, said his party would look to cut unnecessary spending if it took said: "I think in general, one of the things we're looking at is going into the county council and looking at where spending is not required and where we're wasting council money."The Green Party was invited to the hustings but was unable to attend, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has been approached for comment. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Longer trains plan as new rail line fills up
A newly reopened railway line has attracted so many passengers that carriages may have to be added to trains to avoid people having to stand, a council said. The Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December after being shut for 60 years but so far only half the six stations are in operation. County council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth said making the carriages longer was being considered to cope with demand, especially on busy Newcastle United match days. He described it as a "good problem" for the £298m project where passenger numbers are on course to hit five times the original estimate. The council thinks 250,000 journeys will have been made by Easter, against initial expectations of 50,000. Wearmouth said: "I have spent many years being told that this project would be a colossal failure and a waste of money, but with just three stations open it is showing just how successful it will be. "Currently, on matchdays and a number of other times, we are getting close to capacity where people are having to stand for their journey. "We might have to think about extending the trains." Wearmouth said the platforms were designed to accommodate longer trains and talks were being held with Network Rail and Northern about expanding the trains. The project had faced several delays and spiralling costs, with the route initially scheduled to open last summer. Stations at Ashington and Seaton Delaval opened in December, while Blyth Newsham opened last month. The remaining stations at Blyth Bebside, Northumberland Park and Bedlington are due to open throughout this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Northumberland Line reopens after 60 years Start date for 'groundbreaking' railway announced Railway line to open with only two stations ready Campaign group urges clarity on railway start date Northumberland Line
BBC News
11-04-2025
- BBC News
Northumberland Line longer trains plan as railway fills up
A newly reopened railway line has attracted so many passengers that carriages may have to be added to trains to avoid people having to stand, a council said. The Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December after being shut for 60 years but so far only half the six stations are in operation. County council deputy leader Richard Wearmouth said making the carriages longer was being considered to cope with demand, especially on busy Newcastle United match described it as a "good problem" for the £298m project where passenger numbers are on course to hit five times the original estimate. The council thinks 250,000 journeys will have been made by Easter, against initial expectations of 50,000. Wearmouth said: "I have spent many years being told that this project would be a colossal failure and a waste of money, but with just three stations open it is showing just how successful it will be."Currently, on matchdays and a number of other times, we are getting close to capacity where people are having to stand for their journey. "We might have to think about extending the trains." Wearmouth said the platforms were designed to accommodate longer trains and talks were being held with Network Rail and Northern about expanding the project had faced several delays and spiralling costs, with the route initially scheduled to open last summer. Stations at Ashington and Seaton Delaval opened in December, while Blyth Newsham opened last month. The remaining stations at Blyth Bebside, Northumberland Park and Bedlington are due to open throughout this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
