PLANS for a £50m extension of Thamesdown Drive are coming together as a preferred route has now been established following a report published last month.

The Halcrow report was commissioned by Swindon Council to iron out costings for the ambitious ring road extension, and this is the final step before a ruling on funding is made at the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on December 5.

The options were whittled down using a number of criteria, including environmental impact, and the final recommendation is for a single carriageway to run parallel to the existing railway line.

This would bring the route between Sparcells and Nova Hreod, before linking up with Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and coming to an end at Barnfield Road.

Keith Williams, cabinet member for highways, strategic transport and leisure at Swindon Council, said: “A range of seven options were offered up, and a preferred scheme has now come forward.

“This consists of a single carriageway extending down from Thames-down Drive along the route of the existing rail tracks, before travelling under the railway line towards Barnfield.

“We will now wait for a ruling on funding in the Autumn Statement.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland has been lobbying in Parliament for the extension with MP for North Swindon, Justin Tomlinson.

“Justin and I have discussed the council’s report into the options for improving road links between Thamesdown Drive and Great Western Way in a meeting with the Chancellor,” said Mr Buckland.

“I believe that the Thamesdown Drive extension would help to relieve traffic problems for residents in North and West Swindon.

“Further, it would also attract investment into Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and the town centre.

“The report narrowed down the options, has come up with a sensible preferred route and has provided some clearer cost estimates, which is a real help in making the case to the government.

“Justin and I will keep on making the case for the new road ahead of the Autumn Statement.”

Some residents expressed concerns the link road would encourage unwanted development in West Swindon.

Kevin Fisher, chair of the Shaw Resident’s Association, said: “The updated Halcrow report was completed during October and provided to Robert Buckland for his discussions with the treasury.

“Of the seven routes considered, the one that comes out strongest is a single carriageway, with potential for dualling, that follows the northern side of the railway line, then is tunnelled underneath where the height of the embankment allows before carrying on to Barnfield.

“Concerns were raised that putting the road in would make it easier for developers to seek planning permission to the west.

“This is in part why only a single carriageway is being considered at this time.

“Other routes attempted an earlier crossing over the railway line, but the environmental impact was far higher. A route following the north all the way down to Bruce Street Bridges was also discounted.”