Sir, – If every person in Britain was told they had to take a 60-mile detour on their return journey to Edinburgh there would be outrage. Yet that is exactly what is happening to every commercial vehicle and private car that travels up the east coast. By travelling from Darlington to Dalkeith along the A68 one cuts off about 30 miles from the journey which might otherwise take you via Newcastle and Berwick along the A1 instead.
Isn't it a huge waste of money, time, petrol and resources? Shouldn't we be shortening the journey to Scotland by making the A68 a dual carriageway? Think of the savings to the environment pollution and traffic around Newcastle and Durham City.
Isn't it time to take the high road? Dual the A1 too by all means but let's look at alternatives. We could bring jobs with business to the western part of County Durham and into rural Northumberland from a scheme like this.
NIGEL F BODDY
Fife Road, Darlington.
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