A1 dualling campaigner joined by Instagram star in epic Northumberland hike to gather support
The man behind a prominent campaign group calling for upgrades on the A1 in Northumberland is walking the length of the county to gather support for the cause.
Kezz Petronelli-Stone, the co-founder of the Northumberland A1 Safety Alliance, is walking from Berwick to Newcastle over the course of five days, using the route of the old A1.
It comes ahead of his plan to deliver his petition, signed by almost 7,500 people, directly to Westminster on Budget Day.
Kezz was joined by Northumberland-based Instagram star Scott Fairnington – known as Scottyfarino on social media.
Scott brings a significant social media reach to the campaign – he has almost 800,000 followers on Instagram and more than 485,000 on Facebook.
The hike comes just days after 22-year-old Erin Bennett was killed in a three-vehicle collision near Felton.
Speaking in Alnwick after two days on the road, Kezz explained that the campaign had tapped in to wider discontent about the cost of living
He said: “We’ve picked up 1,000 signatures in a day. People have stopped cars to sign it.
“The more attention we can get, the better. People came out their houses to track us down and sign this – they care.
“When I read that somebody has campaigned for decades and nothing has happened, they can’t have done a very good job.
“It’s not just about the A1. It’s infrastructure in general – it’s every walk of life and every business.
“Nobody is winning. Hospitality is on its knees and everybody is paying high energy costs. Somebody has to say something.
“Last year, we took 500 tractors down to County Hall – but we can’t do that this year because nobody can afford the fuel, so we’re walking instead!
“The road needs immediate improvement. This weekend has tragically reinforced that.”
On Friday, the group set off from Alnwick and will head to Felton via the Cook and Barker Inn in Newton-on-the-Moor. Saturday will see them go from Felton to County Hall in Morpeth, with the final leg on Sunday going from County Hall to Greys Monument in Newcastle via the Ridley Arms in Stannington.
All in all, it’s a distance of more than 70 miles including the previous stints from Berwick to Alnwick.
Scott said: “I thought it’s about time I started to try and help out in my local community and make a difference. Me and Kezz were drinking together and he asked if I could support the campaign for the A1 – he mentioned he was doing this walk and I thought why not get involved.
“I wanted to do the whole thing. This is an important issue.
“The road is awful. I drive on it every day, and in the summer it is diabolical, it’s just ridiculous. People don’t take it seriously until it affects them.
“Something needs to be done.”
Cllr Guy-Renner Thompson, who completed the first leg of the walk from Berwick to Belford, said; “The walk may look like a bit of fun but it’s about raising awareness for a very serious issue we all face here in North Northumberland.
“We need people in London to take this seriously. People like Scotty Fairno and Kezz have a huge social media reach so I’m hoping this will tap into that audience that traditional media doesn’t reach.”