Congested 'misery' roundabout to get upgrade
GoogleA congested roundabout will be upgraded after years of campaigning by residents, the government has confirmed.
Heavy traffic at Moor Farm roundabout on the A19 in Northumberland was described by Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody as causing "misery to local residents", as well as a "blocker to growth and a blocker to opportunity".
The decision to approve work at Moor Farm comes after changes to the government's guidance which now allows projects to be judged on wider economic and social criteria rather than just cost-to-benefit ratios.
Plans for the junction have been in the works for some time, following similar projects on the A19 at Testos and Silverlink.
Initial assessments by National Highways deemed the project "poor value for money", despite figures from police which revealed there were 14 accidents at or close to the Moor Farm roundabout since the start of 2020.
But National Highways also has a holding objection in place to planning applications in the area, fearing development could make things worse, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
MPs and councillors have claimed firms have been put off applying for planning permission to build or expand in the area.
'Victory for drivers'
Northumberland councillor Scott Dickinson said: "For too long, Moor Farm Roundabout has been a bottleneck holding back growth, frustrating residents and creating daily congestion.
"This is about more than just a roundabout, it's about unlocking opportunity, supporting jobs and making sure infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said it was a "victory for our region's drivers".
"The congestion has been a nightmare for local people for too long and I'm delighted we're seeing action."
The project is to move forward to consultation later this year, with a business case in development.
