Pressure mounts to make junction 10 of the M5 four way
COMMUTERS could be one step closer to an easier journey.
The Echo has been campaigning for junction 10 of the M5 to be made four way.
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Politicians and business leaders have now demanded a meeting with Highways Agency chiefs in order to bring about the change.
Police and fire chiefs are also being invited to the talks next month in an attempt to give more weight to the case.
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The meeting is being arranged by Tewkesbury Borough Council.
Gloucestershire Highways, Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, as well as Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson and Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood, are all on board for the discussions.
A date has not been set but it is hoped it will take place in the next two weeks.
Councillor Robert Vines, leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: "The aim of this meeting is to get all interested parties around one table to discuss the future plans for this junction.
"The opportunities of opening it up to a four-way route have been made loud and clear by a number of organisations, businesses and residents, so it's absolutely vital that this option is given thorough consideration."
Highways Agency officials calculated the cost of the upgrade as £13.2 million.
It is planning to carry out essential repairs to the bridge in April and politicians have been pushing for an upgrade to take place at the same time.
Mr Robertson said he hoped the meeting would give him a strong case to take to Roads Minister Stephen Hammond.
He added: "This is not just going to happen; we have to fight for it.
"The community has to pull together on this.
"I don't know of anybody who does not want this to happen.
"This is urgent in the sense that the bridge repairs are about to start and I want to see the minister before then."
Simon Dawes, landlord at the Gloucester Old Spot, has campaigned for the work to be carried out. He said: "We're grateful for the politicians banging heads together.
"I have a six-figure investment planned, but I'm not going to spend it until this is sorted out."
3 Comments
by BigGeordie1
Monday, January 28 2013, 8:45PM
“This problem of an intersection has rolled on for as long as i can remember,it was always because of the financial cost.However over the years the traffic has become more and more up the Gloucester Road and Princess Elizabeth Way to travel southward.Ican't beleive the Highways say it would not be justified as there is not enough traffic to build a junction for vehicles Southbound.The advantages for the community would be tenfold,i only hope common sence will prevail in the long run.”
by IsitJimKerr
Monday, January 28 2013, 11:57AM
“A six-figure investment in The Old Spot, is not going to swing things, neither will the interests of businesses within a few hundred yards of the junction.
The benefits of this upgrade will be felt accross the whole County.
If this opportunity isn't taken, to upgrade to a fourway while a new bridge HAS to happen, then we will regret this for as long as we have been regretting the abortion that is 11a!”
by Shireresident
Monday, January 28 2013, 11:29AM
“Boddington New Town here we come.”