VIDEO: Plans for Ashchurch Retail Outlet go on public display

“I can never get links to work on here! This is what I had in mind:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=207847963332992488510.0004d74893805203e7cec&msa=0&ll=51.997908,-2.145209&spn=0.014982,0.042272”

“Thanks tewkman, yes it is poorly thought out - I didn't realise it was a Hitchens masterpiece.

I guess you and I have thought along the same lines. I'd like to see the bypass built with a spur off it linking through to Northway lane, such as this: null

And possibly joining Shannon Way to Bredon Road - I seem to remember that a developer wanted to put a few (hundred) homes just north of here, so it would be good to get the infrastructure in place first.”

“Sorry, 'incident'”

“Tewkman when there's an indecent what on the M5?”

“What about this then? http://tinyurl.com/aknn9tl

No comments either...

Sick desperation!”

“Dontyaknow, The industrial estate I referred to is on the west side of the M5. I work on this estate and have often spent more than an hour in a traffic jam trying to exit when there is an indecent on the M5.”

“Which one is that tewkman? There are so many poorly designed industrial parks around there, I don't know which one it is!”

“Shireresident - very true, and looking at it on Google Maps, their HQ is very close to junction 10 of the M5, so I would be very surprised if they didn't own land in that area.

Re thinking then, perhaps the fact that Junction 10 is poor is what is putting them off. Kingsditch and Gallagher retail parks are very busy and a fair few of these customers would likely shop at the new retail park, so Junction 10 would be ideal except for the fact there is no access from the south, which would mean customers either having to get off at 11 and go via PE way and Tewkesbury Road in Cheltenham or going in up to Junction 9 anyway, turning back and getting off at Junction 10. I expect the Highways would want them to meet the full cost of a Junction upgrade where as Highways will want relatively little in comparison to help with traffic at Junction 9.

Additionally those keen shoppers at Gallagher and Kingsditch can then be at Ashchurch in 10 minutes via the M5, so it is highly likely those shoppers would shop there anyway.

Additionally a devlopment at Junction 10 would still have to be approved by Tewkesbury Borough Council, who would be less likely to accept the idea at this location as it would effectively be a tourist draw for Cheltenham and TBC would have a hardtime convincing their own taxpayers that this is a good thing. At least at Ashchurch, the benefits (Jobs, possible increased tourism) are likely to be kept in the Tewkesbury Borough.

I do agree with tewkman, that I am not opposed to it, but the traffic situation really needs to be looked at on the A46 at Ashchurch - a new retail park, garden centre and Sainsbury's will put a lot of extra burden on an already congested road, and that is before the possibility of 2000 houses should the MOD close the Ashchurch Vehicle Depot, most of whom will likely be heading toward the M5 for their commute.”

“They maybe required to make road improvements but in most cases just enough to make the HA and councils happy. The industrial estate that Hitchins developed is a prime example of bad planning. Technically one road in and out. When the motorway is jammed it's total grid lock. They should have been forced to connect the estate to the Tewkesbury bypass road that was never finished.”

“Actually Tewkman the planners can make the developers pay for the necessary improvements by the imposition of conditions on the planning consent, it's standard procedure. I guess Hitchens and Sainsburys will both be required to contribute to highway improvements.”