Questions remain over the future of plans to dual the A1 in Northumberland after the Transport Secretary declined to commit to the project.
Speaking at Newsham in Blyth on Monday, secretary of state Mark Harper said the Government would not be commenting before it was ready - but added he was well aware of the campaign to dual the road and that Berwick MP Anne Marie Trevelyan had been making the case to him.
The Government had pledged to make a decision on whether it would dual a 13-mile stretch of the road between Morpeth and Alnwick in December.
Read more: Northumberland Line railway link between Newcastle and Ashington delayed until 2024
However, on the day the decision was due to be announced, campaigners were instead told they would have to wait until September this year for the final say-so - leading to frustration and disappointment in towns such as Berwick. At the time, Transport Minister Huw Merriman said a further nine months was needed for "consideration of environmental matters".
Speaking on Monday, Mr Harper said: "Like a lot of these projects, there are business cases to get made, they get get looked at and we make announcements in the usual way. We don't make announcements as we go along.
"I know Anne Marie Trevelyan, one of the local members of parliament, has been campaigning very strong for it and she takes every opportunity to make the case to me very strongly for it.
"The department is working on the case for that project, and when we're ready to say something we will."
During her short-lived spell as Transport Minister under Liz Truss's leadership, Ms Trevelyan said the Government must "deliver on its promises" to dual the A1. Her position at the department of transport led to hope locally that the project would finally get under way after decades of campaigning.
However, Ms Trevelyan left her role following Mrs Truss's resignation and was subsequently replaced by Mr Harper, casting fresh doubt over the dual carriageway project.
Read next:
- Rural crime task force recovers more than £1m in stolen agricultural equipment since 2020
- Iceland confirms closure of Berwick town centre outlet as it starts shutting UK stores
- Multi-million pound deal made to revolutionise Northumberland's digital connectivity
- Northumberland bed and breakfast to appear on Four in a Bed
- Haltwhistle Conservative councillor banned from roads after admitting drink driving charge
