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Farmer 'abandoned' after A1 dualling cancelled

BBC Martin Beal, a man in his 50s, is standing outside his house. He is wearing a blue top and green trousers.BBC
Martin Beal says he still has to pay bills on the home he no longer lives in

A farmer whose home was needed for a road widening scheme says he feels "abandoned" by National Highways and is paying almost £1,000 a month for a house he does not live in.

Martin Beal's family were forced to move from their farmhouse at Charlton Mires in 2022 so it could be demolished as part of the proposed dualling of the A1 in Northumberland.

The scheme has now been shelved, but Mr Beal says because the purchase has not been completed he is still liable for bills and is owed part of the agreed price.

National Highways said it was "in the final stages of approving the relevant agreements".

Martin Beal A black and white photograph dating from the 1920s shows a car of the era parked outside Charlton Mires, which is a square Georgian farmhouse. Martin Beal
The family has been at Charlton Mires, pictured in the 1920s, since 1904

There are 42 miles (66km) of the A1 in Northumberland that are still single carriageway, but in 2014 the then Prime Minister David Cameron gave the go-ahead to a proposal to upgrade a 13-mile (20km) section between Morpeth and Ellingham.

Despite a number of postponements, the previous Conservative government approved the Development Consent Order in May 2024, raising hopes construction could begin.

However, the Labour government cancelled it in October 2024, with the Department for Transport saying it had "to make difficult decisions about roads that were unfunded or unaffordable".

A Freedom of Information request by the BBC revealed £68.4m had been already been spent on the scheme.

Amanda and Martin Beal are sitting on a brown sofa in their living room. She is wearing jeans and a brown jumper and has her hand on his knee. He is wearing a shirt and jeans.
Amanda Beal died of cancer last year and Mr Beal said her last months were made more difficult with the stress of the situation

Mr Beal's home at Charlton Mires was one of three properties which needed to be demolished.

He said: "National Highways still owe me 10% of the agreed price.

"I've had to pay council tax, insurance, standing charges on water and electric, thousands and thousands of pounds."

If properties are acquired by compulsion and the land is then not required, they are offered back to previous owners.

But Mr Beale said the house was now "completely dilapidated".

"We'd have to spend a fortune doing it up under the shadow they might come back and say A1 dualling was on again," he added.

Louis Fell is standing outside a house. He's a man in his 40s wearing a green jacket and wellington boots.
Land agent Louis Fell says there are a number of outstanding claims relating to the A1 scheme

Mr Beale also claims surveys and archaeological digs damaged some of his drains. He says his land now floods, resulting in the loss of two lambs.

Land agent Louis Fell, who represents a number of landowners affected by the A1 scheme, described dealing with National Highways as "frustrating slow".

"It seems like nobody is dealing with the loose ends," he said.

"There are still a lot of outstanding claims and the properties they purchased are just rotting.

"It's just a complete mess."

The junction at Charlton Mires. A "give way" sign is in the foreground where a road on the right of the image joins the main A1. A blue lorry is passing by on the left with more vehicles in the distance.
If the A1 upgrade had gone ahead, this junction at Charlton Mires would have been replaced by a roundabout

Russell Mclean, National Highways senior project manager, said the organisation was "sympathetic" to Mr Beal's position.

He said: "Our property and legal team are working so final payments, including property and solicitor's fees, can be made to him.

"Internal discussions remain ongoing regarding flooding at the property and I would be more than happy to meet Mr Beal in person and bring him up to date with developments."

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