Linking the M4 to the M5

To Birmingham

A40 A436 A436 To Oxford A40 A417

M5

A419

Swindon M4 East M4 West

From and BristolGloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership County Council A417 Loop | Connecting the M4 to M5 3

CONTENTS FOREWORD

For more than 20 years, Gloucestershire and surrounding counties have been looking for a solution to the ‘Missing Link’ on the A417.The 5km stretch of road, near Nettleton Bottom, is the only single carriageway along the strategic 50km route between the 3 Foreword / Pledge M4 and M5.

The route is a key link between the West Midlands and London and is used daily by more than 34,000 The Problem 4 vehicles. The ‘Missing Link’ is often very heavily congested and there are frequent accidents, affecting people across Gloucestershire and further afield. What We Want / The Solution 6 Gloucestershire County Council has consistently campaigned for something to be done to address the problem, which is seriously affecting our local economy and, more importantly, people’s safety. Recent 8 The Economic Impact fatalities on the ‘Missing Link’ are a tragic reminder of why we need to act now. The A417 loop scheme, the only workable solution to this problem, is not currently included in any 10 Connectivity Research in Gloucestershire 2013 national infrastructure delivery programme despite more than 20 years of investigations. We’ve worked with the Highways Agency (HA) which has invested its time and money into finding the 11 Case Study right solution – now we need that solution to be implemented. Gloucestershire is firmly behind the A417 Loop scheme. We now need the government to get behind 12 Timeline Gloucestershire and we’re calling for the A417 loop to be included within the HA’s major scheme development programme for delivery as a matter of urgency.

Pledge

I support Gloucestershire County Council’s campaign and I am calling for the A417 loop to be included within the Highways Agency’s major scheme development programme for delivery as a matter of urgency.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne MBE Leader, Gloucestershire County Council

Martin Surl Gloucestershire Police Commissioner A417 Loop | Connecting the M4 to M5 5

Just one 5km section of single THE PROBLEM carriageway of the 50km SUMMARY REPORT A417/A419 remains, between The majority of the 50km long, A417 / A419 Trunk Road route between M4 () and M5 (Gloucester) is high quality dual carriageway. The road carries an average of 34,000 vehicles per day - 14% Heavy Brockworth and Cowley Goods Vehicles. It is maintained by the Highways Agency (HA) as part of the Government’s Strategic Road Network (SRN).

Over the last 20 years improvements have been made to the road, including grade separated junctions at Swindon, the Blunsdon Bypass, the North of Stratton to Nettleton Improvement, Latton and bypasses and the Brockworth Bypass. Just one 5km section of single carriageway of the 50km A417/ A419 remains, between Brockworth and Cowley. This section is known as the A417 Loop and features two To Birmingham roundabouts, a number of junctions and local accesses and steep gradients at Crickley Hill and Nettleton Bottom. There are congested pinch points at roundabout and Nettleton Bottom. A40 Cheltenham

Gloucester There are a number of key issues with the A417 Loop A436 To Oxford A40 A417 Safety concerns for road users 28,700 vehicles per day on the Severance There have been 343 casualties link towards Swindon. The lack of a segregated trunk on the section of A417 Loop road network for the A417 since 1998. This includes eight Significant financial costs Loop results in the severance of fatalities and 39 serious injuries. to businesses local communities and national The number of collisions on the A number of surveys have been footpath in the heavily used M5 A417 Loop represent half of the carried out to understand the . Local accesses collisions on the whole length of impacts of the A417 Loop on on to the A417 Loop currently the A417/A419 trunk road within businesses. They concluded face either severe congestion A419 Gloucestershire, yet represent the A417 Loop is the most during peak hours, or fast moving less than 20% of its length. detrimental congestion hotspot traffic and difficulty of access in Previous studies have shown within the county. Freight the off peak hours. that many lorry breakdowns, operators said the single particularly engine and brake carriageway section of the A417 Future pressures Swindon fires, elsewhere on the route have was the least reliable section of The emerging Draft Joint M4 East almost certainly started on the the Gloucestershire network in Core Strategy for Tewkesbury, M4 West A417 Loop. terms of journey reliability and Gloucester and Cheltenham congestion, impacting upon alone proposes over 33,000 new Major congestion and delays operating costs. homes for the period to 2031. The Air Balloon roundabout is This will put significant additional Bristol a key junction on the A417/ Air quality and noise problems pressure on this already weak link A419 between Swindon and Council on the route between the M5 and Gloucester and causes much declared an Air Quality the M4. of the congestion on the A417 Management Area (AQMA) in Loop. Traffic queues on all three 2008 in respect of nitrogen arms of the roundabout during dioxide at the Air Balloon peak hours and journey time roundabout junction. The elevated 343 delays of 20 minutes and more levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution casualties on the A417 in both directions are due to traffic emissions at the 1998 - mid 39 is commonplace. The two way Air Balloon junction caused by 2013 serious injuries annual average daily traffic on the queuing traffic and a high level of A417 is currently 34,200 vehicles slow moving HGVs. 8 per day on Crickley Hill, and fatalities A417 Loop | Connecting the M4 to M5 7

WHAT WE WANT The A417/A419 provides a key

The Highways Agency has explored numerous options to deal with the problems ranging from £1billion route between the M4 and M5 tunnels to low cost temporary measure to re-route traffic. Ultimately, the HA has concluded that the only workable option is the A417 Loop scheme, which was developed and agreed by statutory environmental linking the Midlands with bodies as the best option, in 2003. Swindon and London Work to introduce the A417 Loop scheme would cost in the region of £255 million and a lack of funding has prevented the work taking place to date.

What we want is for the government to get behind Gloucestershire and add the A417 loop scheme to the HA’s major scheme development programme for delivery as a matter of urgency.

The solution

The A417 loop is a short bypass of Nettleton Bottom, widening of Bypass, a new junction at Birdlip, a new junction replacing the Air Balloon roundabout and construction of an additional two lane carriageway down Crickley Hill adjacent to the existing road.

Remodelled accesses to properties at Cold and along Crickley Hill would be provided and a local road created, linking Birdlip, Cold Slad, the road and the A436.

The Birdlip to Cowley Link scheme will

Provide a grade-separated dual carriageway Provide high value for money from Brockworth to Cowley Journey time and accidents are reduced providing The scheme comprises a short bypass of Nettleton a total benefit cost of some four times the cost of Bottom, widening of Birdlip Bypass, a new junction constructing the scheme. This provides a Benefit to at Birdlip, a new junction replacing the Air Balloon Cost Ratio (BCR) of over 4:1. This is a high BCR roundabout and construction of an additional two and is considerably higher than that achieved by lane carriageway down Crickley Hill provided in an other solutions considered for the route. adjacent carriageway separated from the existing road. Remodelled accesses to properties at Cold Provide wider economic benefits Slad and along Crickley Hill would be provided and Wider economic benefits will include reducing a local road created, linking Birdlip, Cold Slad, the business costs, providing journey time reliability for Leckhampton road and the A436. Vehicles travelling deliveries and commuters, widening markets for between the M5 and the M4 would travel without goods/labour and creating construction jobs. interruption. Provide network resilience Reduce the likelihood of collisions The A417/A419 provides a key route between the Of all of the options investigated by the Highways M4 and M5 linking the Midlands with Swindon Agency, this scheme produced the biggest and London. It also plays has an important role in reduction in accidents, bringing the biggest benefit. providing an alternative route to M4/M5 in the event of congestion/incidents on this route. Reduce the likelihood of congestion There would be a long term improvement in traffic flow and reduced congestion along the route. In turn this would reduce the level of rat running through local villages and rural areas. A417 Loop | Connecting the M4 to M5 9

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT

A number of economic studies have been carried out over the past four years to identify the problems caused by the A417 Loop to local businesses and the effects on economic growth.

Stage 1 Delivering a Sustainable Transport Strategy (DaSTS) Phase 1 Cheltenham and Gloucester Connectivity Study Study South West Regional Assembly • June 2009 Report Atkins Transport Planning and Management • May 2010

This study looked at the connectivity of the nine main growth areas across the South West Region. This study focussed on connectivity issues relating to Cheltenham and Gloucester, including the Cheltenham/Gloucester and Swindon, located at each end of the A417/A419 corridor, are two of these A417/A419 to Swindon corridor. The study area was focussed on Cheltenham and Gloucester growth areas. It focussed on the importance of the transport system in supporting the Regional and the area of Tewkesbury that lies between the two communities. Economic Strategy.

As far as the A417 is concerned, journey time unreliability was sited as preventing just in time meaning businesses cannot rely on their stock turning up when they need it. This issue also Key conclusions prevents Gloucestershire businesses from competing with Thames Valley businesses because of the connectivity issues. Traffic modelling shows that The A417/A436 roundabout They also stated that when with forecast growth, the Air at the Air Balloon was also breakdowns occur, the steep Balloon roundabout will be identified by operators as being gradients and congestion Key conclusions operating more than 30% particularly dangerous, whilst the makes recovery slow and over capacity by 2026. approach on Crickley Hill was felt complicated, causing further to be a particular problem during disruption. Within the south west region, Swindon is rated Addressing issues on the A417/A419 corridor A business survey adverse weather conditions third and Cheltenham/Gloucester fourth in the was seen to be of regional importance in economic (201 businesses) indicated that: in winter. They supported the A417 Loop table indicating the importance of transport to the terms. • The A417/A419 corridor is an as the best way to tackle the local economy, implying that there is a strategic important transport corridor for Freight operators also pointed problems, but recognised it is a importance for the A417/A419 corridor to the A 2009 study of connectivity problems in the 80% of respondents out that when problems occur on long term scheme due to the high local economy. south west concluded the Gloucester/Cheltenham • The A417 Air Balloon the A417 Loop - records show cost involved. to Swindon corridor was of relatively high economic roundabout was identified as a on average major incidents occur The Department for Transport indicator on importance in terms of the regional economy. particular congestion hotspot around six times each month journey time reliability identified the A417/ - traffic, including lorries, divert Air Balloon A419 corridor between Swindon and Brockworth Freight operators and onto local, often unsuitable, roundabout as having the worst average vehicle delay of all Worst average organisations identified the roads to bypass the problem, strategic routes in the South West and a higher single carriageway section of the causing environmental forecasted delay than the national average. vehicle delay A417 as the least reliable section and safety problems. to be running of all strategic routes of the Gloucestershire network in terms of journey reliability and 30% over in the South West congestion, impacting upon operating costs. capacity by 2026 A417 Loop | Connecting the M4 to M5 11

WHAT BUSINESSES SAY

Mark Owen Chairman Federation of Small Businesses Gloucestershire and West of Region CONNECTIVITY RESEARCH IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE 2013

Nearly 300 businesses were Swindon area to the M5 and operation but also for their Through my role, I make the journey on the A417 between Birdlip and Cirencester on surveyed in 2013 to identify the destinations further north, and staff commuting. A number of a regular enough basis to feel frustrated by the delays that always seem to dog the economic impacts of deficits vice versa. consultees said the problems Nettleton Bottom stretch of single carriageway. in the Strategic Road Network were not just congestion and on Gloucestershire businesses In addition the current congestion delays, but also the lack of I can remember the time when this single Having driven extensively in Europe and having seen and beyond. Businesses in issues at this location were noted reliability of journey times. carriageway extended all the way from Birdlip to the levels of civil engineering that has been brought Gloucestershire, Swindon and as a problem for road access Delays at this location impacted Cirencester, with its seemingly endless series of to bear on some of the geographical obstacles they Wiltshire, and Worcestershire between Gloucestershire and on logistics and others relying on blind summits making overtaking an impossibility have to contend with, I find it absurd that this small were invited to take part. London, which negatively delivering goods to customers for all but the suicidal. tract of rolling countryside should have impacts on inward investment further north along the defeated us for so long. Overwhelmingly the A417 Loop into our county. M5 corridor and beyond. The current road is a vast improvement making was noted as an issue by the commuting to Cirencester and all points beyond a If you take a look at how the French, Swiss, majority of businesses. This Congestion on the A417 Loop practical possibility – all but for this small stretch. Germans and Italians have tamed the mighty Alps route provides a critical link from was regularly noted as a key with gravity defying roads, bridges and tunnels, we businesses operating in the issue not only for business It means that when I visit a client in say Cricklade or should hang our collective heads in shame over Swindon or the FSB regional office in Cirencester the Nettleton Bottom fiasco. Just check out Italy’s I have to allow extra time for negotiating Nettleton Stelvio Pass on Google and you will see exactly Bottom, taking up valuable time and adding what I mean. to personal stress and extra petrol costs. The alternative, which I have used on occasions is the I suspect that if Isambard Kingdom Brunel or train – which again racks up extra costs for the Thomas Telford were alive today they could knock business. Add the road’s appalling safety record and out a viable Nettleton Bottom scheme on the back it’s easy to see why business drivers will go out of of a fag packet. their way to avoid this stretch of the A417, which must have a detrimental impact on businesses At the end of the day it comes down, not to either trading out of Gloucestershire or into it. engineering problems, but expense. Sorting out the A417 will cost money, that has never been in doubt. Opening up this stretch as a dual carriageway We just need the powers that be to bite the bullet would have an immediate beneficial effect not and get on with it. just in Gloucestershire but much wider afield. I would urge all businesses large and small to get 68% 70% In my FSB work I meet many business people who behind this campaign and pledge their support by share my concerns and who are convinced that visiting www.a417missinglink.co.uk of respondents of respondents said improving this aspect of our infrastructure would said that the A417 that the A417 Loop be good for their business. Loop was ‘significant congestion had a or very significant’ negative impact on Opening up this stretch as a dual carriageway to the operation of their business would have an immediate beneficial effect not their business just in Gloucestershire but much wider afield. A417 Loop | Connecting the M4 to M5 13 For the first time, importantly, the Highways Agency had a major scheme design, and the A417 LOOP TIMELINE Countryside Agency, the Environment Agency, English Nature and English Heritage were all content to see it proceed to the next stage. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP

In 1998 Between 2004 and 2006 major scheme should be a the next stage: entry into the 2010/2011 Dual carriageway improvements work continued by the HA’s longer term priority and not targeted programme The HA declares it has no completed over 80% of M4/M5 consultants to refine the surface included within the 10 year of improvements. funding to commence; even link, establishing strategic route. route improvement, which was forward programme of schemes for the low cost measures concluded as the best solution to be delivered by 2015/16. In 2008 identified in its report. In October 2001 in the 2003 work. The Stage 2 However, in recognition of the The HA released the bypass The Highways Agency appointed Community Consultation report- need to improve this A417 Loop review report and concluded 2012 consultants to undertake an March 2006-concluded that on the A417/419 corridor, the that there were no lower cost The HA agreed to trial a traffic environmental study to examine Option D, the ‘modified A417 South West Regional Assembly solutions which would be capable management change at the potential options to improve the Loop’ should be taken forward. requested that the HA examine of providing long term safety and Air Balloon roundabout. This section of road known as the the possibility of a lower cost congestion benefits between is subsequently abandoned in A417 Loop. In 2005 solution. Work began on the Cowley and Brockworth. The spring 2013. The government undertook a lower cost scheme review. work confirmed that the major In 2003 review of the motorway and scheme proposals known 2013 The HA published the results trunk road network in England, In October 2006 as the A417 Loop is HA commence a study to look of this work: an options report, classifying routes as being either Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP the only solution. at short term, low cost measures The A417 Cowley to Brockworth of national or regional importance. debated the A417 Loop proposal at the Air Balloon roundabout. Improvement Study Report The A417/A419 was categorised in the House of Commons with In 2010 March 2003, which supported as being of regional importance, the then Secretary of State, Workshops led by HA, and a the dualling solution for the with funding for any major Dr Stephen Ladyman. When report was produced to identify A417 Loop. The study had also transport schemes to be found referring to the A417 Loop short term, low cost measures considered the potential for a from the south west region’s scheme Geoffrey Clifton-Brown to improve the route. tunnel, but this was abandoned funding allocation. said: “For the first time, on the grounds of cost, importantly, the Highways Agency estimated at £1billion, and severe In 2006 had a major scheme design, environmental impacts. The When setting out its priorities for and the Countryside Agency, the Environment Agency submitted investment into major transport Environment Agency, English a holding objection for the tunnel schemes, the Region informed Nature and English Heritage were option that could not be resolved. Ministers that the A417 Loop all content to see it proceed to

Debate held in House of Commons between Geoffrey Workshops led by HA and a HA study commences to Dual carriageway improvements Highways Agency appoints HA publishes report: The Stage 2 Community Consultation: Clifton-Brown MP and the HA releases bypass review report was produced to identify HA agrees to trial traffic consider short term, low cost completed over 80% of M4/M5 link,consultants to undertake A417 Cowley to BrockworthReport concludes A417 Loop A417/A419 categorised as then Secretary of State, report and concludes no other short term, low cost measuresHA declares no management change at measures at the Air Balloon establishing strategic route environmental study Improvement Study Report should be taken forward being of regional importance Dr Stephen Ladyman lower cost solution to improve route funding to commence Air Balloon roundabout roundabout

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