Council chiefs back £6.1m transport scheme

“EXCITING” plans to reduce major bottlenecks in Gloucestershire by improving junction 9 of the M5 and the A46 near Tewkesbury have received the endorsement of council chiefs.

The £6.1m transport scheme is a step closer after Gloucestershire County Council agreed to proceed with procurement work.

Cabinet agreed this week to delegate authority to officials to undertake a public consultation about the proposals and procure development work for the scheme.

Environment and planning cabinet member David Gray (C,

Winchcombe and Woodmancote) said the improvements will help support the economy and fuel the “exciting developments” in Gloucestershire’s economy.

He added: “Tewkesbury is already one of the fastest growing economies in the country which reflects well on how desirable Gloucestershire is as a location for particularly high tech industries. That’s an advantage we are keen to build on and if we want to build on that we need to have the infrastructure that supports that continued development.

“This development enhances the A46 link through to the Midlands and beyond and will reduce bottlenecks in the existing regional and national infrastructure. It will better connect Tewkesbury to Cheltenham and Gloucester.”

“This is a great scheme for us to be promoting.

Council leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley) agreed with Cllr Gray.

“It’s an exciting scheme that is being taken forward and also underlines the confidence we are gaining within national government and national agencies for delivering in Gloucestershire.”