Rishi Sunak and Tim Farron call for start to A66 dualling

Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond and Northallerton, and Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, have written to the Prime Minister in an attempt to express the vital nature of the A66 dualling scheme in saving lives of motorists.

Work had been expected to start in early 2025 on upgrading the notorious 50-mile stretch between Scotch Corner and Penrith to a full dual carriageway after the project was approved in March by the then Transport Secretary.

A66 where it changes to single lane (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

But the whole scheme was called into question when Labour came to power after the Department for Transport (DfT) said an “internal review” of ongoing, scheduled and confirmed transport projects would be held.

Over the last three months, transport projects, including the A66, have been on an indefinite hold - leaving the £1.5bn project in question.

Rishi Sunak and Tim Farron call for start to A66 dualling

But, in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mr Sunak and Mr Farron have noted the number of fatal incidents on the A66 over the years and has urged the Labour leader for an immediate start to the project between Scotch Corner and Penrith. 

In the letter, the two MPs said: "I write to represent my constituents to ask for a meeting regarding the A66 running through my constituency and that of my co-signatory and constituency neighbour.

Dualling the A66 from Penrith to Scotch Corner would massively ease congestion, boost the North's economy and save lives.

My constituency neighbour @RishiSunak and I have written to the Prime Minister urging him to meet with us and give this vital project the green light. pic.twitter.com/aAfdBiGZ06

— Tim Farron (@timfarron) October 16, 2024

"As I explained in my question to you at PMQs on 4th September, the A66 has had at least ten fatal accidents in the last six years in the short stretch running through the Eden Valley in Westmorland.

"One hundred and ninety-eight collisions were counted from 2018-2023. In 2023 alone there were twelve fatalities along the route’s entire length between Penrith and Scotch Corner."

The letter, dated Monday (October 14), goes on to say that "the longer it is left under review, the longer our constituents are left in uncertainty, and the longer preventable accidents will continue".

A copy of the letter (Image: TIM FARRON) Both MPs added to the Prime Minister that "you can – and must – act swiftly to stop these horrifying accidents."

The letter concluded: "Completion of the dualling project would also deliver noticeable benefits for our region – reducing congestion and boosting the wider economy.

"It will improve connections between Cumbria, North Yorkshire, the Tees Valley, and Tyne and Wear. It will also boost the tourism economy in our region and ease traffic pressure on our rural communities."

This letter from the two MPs comes weeks after a transport group urged the government to 'scrap' the A66 scheme over concerns about costs. 

The A66 near Scotch Corner (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Under the suggestions, which are from the Campaign for Better Transport, the group has urged the government to remove the planning order granted for the A66 and called the idea that dualling the road would ease congestion 'a myth'.

Michael Solomon Williams from Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The Government should revoke the planning order for the A66 scheme and instead use the staggering £1.4 billion to maintain existing roads and expand local public transport, especially into the Lake District National Park where road traffic is already causing havoc.

The A66 stretches between Scotch Corner and Penrith (Image: HIGHWAYS) "It’s an established myth that building new roads eases congestion.

"It is wiser economically and environmentally speaking to invest in public transport.”

But, supporters for the dualling scheme have also been vocal in recent months, with councillors in North Yorkshire adamant that the A66 dualling must go ahead, with Yvonne Peacock, who covers the Upper Dales division, saying previously that she will be disappointed if the scheme doesn't go ahead. 

She said: "We have been lobbying for years to get the upgrade on the A66. It is a dangerous road causing many accidents.

"Many councillors over many years have worked to achieve this latest work. I will be most disappointed if after all this time Labour does not go ahead with the plans.

"How many more accidents? An improvement plan is in place and now we need this to go ahead. Work is seriously needed at the Scotch Corner junction."

The Department for Transport said that the review of transport projects is still ongoing, while a legal challenge against the A66 project planning approval begins at the High Court on October 23.

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project is opposed by a campaign group called Transport Action Network.

It has launched a legal challenge on environmental grounds to the planning consent granted last year by the Conservative Government.