Yahoo News 'Traffic busting' plan for M5 junction 9 a step closer as Shire Hall explores rapid transit link
‘Traffic busting’ plans for the A46 and M5 with a new junction 9 and guided bus, tram or light rail system linking Tewkesbury with Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud are a step closer to fruition. Gloucestershire County Council leaders have agreed today (May 15) to continue their development work on a transport scheme for this vitally important section of the national and county road network.
The M5 Junction 9 and A46 Transport Scheme aims to develop a new or reconfigured junction near Tewkesbury and re-route the existing A46 around Ashchurch to Teddington Hands roundabout. And part of the plans include exploring the creation of a mass transit system linking Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham.
Shire Hall is setting aside £3m to develop the M5 Junction 9 and A46 Ashchurch Transport Scheme in 2024/25. Some £2 million of this is approved revenue funding from the existing base budget sat within the transport planning business case for 2024/25.
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And £1 million funded from historic funding approval from June 2022. Progress on a mass rapid transit system will be funded by £500,000 set aside from the general fund received and some £400,000 previously approved by the City Region Board.
Environment and planning cabinet member David Gray (C, Winchcombe), who has personally experienced the traffic on the A46, said there is a need for infrastructure to facilitate economic growth and housing in the county.
“The A46 and M5 junction 9 is a key corridor across the country,” he said. “It gives us access to some 5.5m people and 10 per cent of the English economy is along the A46 corridor.
“Unfortunately junction 9 is a key bottleneck. We suffer from the local consequences of that.
"I live in Winchcombe and am regularly travelling over to Tewkesbury and the A46 unfortunately mixes that local traffic with the cross country traffic to the detriment of people living along that route and the detriment of everyone getting from A to B along that trans Midland corridor.”
He said the council is going out to further develop a business case for a transport scheme at M5 junction 9. “It’s a scheme that will provide a boost in particular to the Tewkesbury garden communities which Tewkesbury Borough Council are pushing forward that will deliver some more titan 10,000 houses.
“And 120 hectares of employment land as well as delivering on improving the through traffic on that route.” He said there will be options and will seek comments from the public at that time.
Mass rapid transit is needed if the council wants to have a sustainable and green economy, he said. And explained the “golden diamond” between Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud is where most development will focus in years to come.
“We want to continue to explore how we can put a mass rapid transit system and what type and route we are going for,” he said.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Gray said options could range from anything from a light rail or tram system to a guided bus which is a vehicle which goes off rail at certain sections and then clips back on.
Cabinet agreed to procure professional services to secure continuation of development work on the M5 junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme. And to approve and submit the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme and to the Department for Transport once complete.
They will also procure the professional services required to secure continuation of development work on the Mass Rapid Transit Transport Scheme, either by commissioning work under the council’s professional services contract, or by awarding a call-off contract or contracts under an alternative, compliant framework, or a combination of both.
