Business case will be put together after 20-year campaign

A recent report said that improving the existing roads would be a more cost-effective way of managing the route, but many still demanded the building of the road.

Now, Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for transport at Swindon Council, has announced a task group involving the Liberal Democrats and local community organisations to look at plans.

It was initially thought developing a plan would cost £600,000 if outside consultants were used but the new plan would use existing staff so would not cost as much. It is hoped the plan will be presented to the Department of Transport some time in 2015.

Coun Heenan said: “Today the Conservatives say yes to writing the outline business case for the £50m Thamesdown Drive to Great Western Way road, which will be submitted to the Department of Transport.

“Residents have had 20 years of promises by politicians to build this road, and been let down every time.

“We need new thinking, and by breaking this huge challenge into manageable pieces the Conservatives are sure we can get progress.

“We will also investigate what other improvements can be made to the roads around West and north Swindon to help reduce traffic congestion.

“But the Conservatives disagree with the consultants of the recent feasibility study because we do not believe that dualling Mead way or Akers way is the answer.

“The Conservatives’ approach, following best practice project management principles, will cost a fraction of the £600,000 that Labour continually demand is spent, and which they use as an excuse to refuse to work with us.”

At this stage it is not known exactly how much it will cost or the length of time but it is hoped the group will meet for the first time next month.

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) said: “The Thamesdown Drive to Great Western Way relief road is one of the great unanswered challenges that faces Swindon.

“Through good financial management, my Conservative administration is now able to make a firm commitment to develop an outline business case designed to persuade Government that they should provide the resources required to work up the full feasibility study and then to fund the building of the missing relief road.”

The Labour Group, which has been calling for the feasibility study to be carried out, welcomed the move but expressed concern it would be kicked into the long grass after the election.

Group Leader Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) said: “This sounds like a small step in the right direction.

“And it is pleasing that the Conservative Group have moved from arguing to do nothing about the road at the start of January to allocating resources to convince Government that this road is necessary by the end of the month.

“My fear remains that this is just a ploy to get beyond the elections in May without proper commitment to solving the traffic problem in the north and west of Swindon.

“Time will tell whether this is the case but what the Conservative Group can be sure of is the strength of feeling among the people in North and West Swindon who are determined to get this road delivered and will hold the Council to account if it doesn’t actively pursue this.”

Thamesdown Drive change is best

THE report released in December looked at a variety of options to solve traffic issues around the Thamesdown Drive.

It concluded that the most cost-effective way of dealing with the issue was to improve existing roads, such as Akers Way and Mead Way.

However, at a meeting earlier this month many residents and members of the Thamesdown Drive Extension Road Campaign Group highlighted problems with this.

They said that Akers Way was too close to homes and therefore turning it into a major dual carriageway would be dangerous.

Many also said that there was already too much traffic along Mead Way and if empty business units fill it will get worse.

They strongly argued that the extension was definitely the best answer.