First it was the A14, next was the A428, now we are joining forces with MP Jonathan Djanogly to kick-start the campaign to improve the A1.

As reported in The Hunts Post, earlier this month the Government announced it was to dual the A428 between Caxton Gibbet and the Black Cat roundabout to create an “expressway” between Cambridge and Bedford and Milton Keynes, with work to start in the next five years.

In the same announcement, from Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, it was revealed a strategic study would look into the future of the A1 between Peterborough and the M25.

Currently, the A1 is restricted to two lanes between Brampton and Baldock and from Stevenage to Welwyn. The study will investigate the feasibility of upgrading these two stretches into motorway-standard three-lane carriageways.

To help convince the Government to press ahead with improving the A1, Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly has started a petition supporting the upgrade.

He says one possibility for the route could be re-igniting a plan from 1994, which would re-route the A1 between the Black Cat roundabout and Brampton to the west of the existing road.

That route would link up to the upgraded three-lane stretch at Brampton, which forms part of the A14 improvement plan.

Mr Djanogly said: “I recently met with Alistair Burt, MP for North East Bedfordshire, as well as with representatives of the A1 Safety Group and the Biggleswade SG19 Group to discuss the issue of upgrading the A1.

“I shall be working with local

residents to make sure our local voice is heard in the coming feasibility study and consultation.

“In order to kick-start my campaign, I want to show the minister how many local people support this proposal. So please help the campaign by signing the A1 petition.

“Together, an upgraded A14, A428 and A1 will provide the infrastructure necessary for our area to move forward and so I find this to be a very exciting and positive series of announcements.”

Terry Hayward, chairman of the Buckden and Southoe A1 Safety Advisory group, said: “We have new developments happening at Alconbury – that’s going to be huge – new housing at Brampton, development promised at Wyton and lots of new housing at St Neots.

“As a consequence, there’s going to be a lot of traffic coming on to this part of the road network which appears to have been forgotten. It won’t get any quieter when they put in the upgraded A14 and A428. Then you’ll have the third side of the triangle that hasn’t been upgraded.

“We need a great deal of support.”

INFORMATION: To sign the petition, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/A1upgrade.