AFTER years of campaigning, hope is building the much desired Thamesdown Drive Extension is moving closer to fruition.

Earlier this year a task group, made up of councillors and local residents, was set up to look into the issue and it has now developed a draft business case for the proposal.

The issue of building an extension down towards the town centre has been rumbling on for almost 30 years.

As more houses have been built in North Swindon, traffic volume has increased meaning there is daily congestion along Akers Way and Mead Way.

Locals have long campaigned for the extension but it has never materialised, largely because of the huge cost involved.

A 2014 report looked at the project and suggested upgrading existing roads was the best option but this was dismissed by all parties involved who said it would not do the job.

The advisory group have now considered a number of possible routes an extension would take and concluded on one, costing approximate £40 million, which provides the most benefits and best value for money.

Certain improvements to Mead Way are also being suggested.

The draft report will now be fully discussed and it is hoped within the next month a final plan will be submitted to government who will then decide whether to approve funding or not.

Councillor Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for transport, said: “The Thamesdown Drive Extension is one of the biggest challenges in Swindon over the last 20 years as we look to improve the roads in Swindon.

“We set up an advisory group made up of residents and councillors working to solve this problem and now I am confident we will soon be ready to send a full business case to our MPs, the Transport Secretary and the Department of Transport.

“If we made the case simply about improving traffic then we would have no chance of getting the funding but by carefully looking at each option we have a case which will not only improve but also have benefits for residents and businesses.”

The proposed new road will be 2.3 kilometres long, starting at Thamesdown Drive and then running south, going under the railway before joining the Great Western Way at the Barnfield Roundabout.

Alos on the advisory group is Coun Des Moffat (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) who also secretary of the Tdex group which as long pushed for the road.

He said: “I am very pleased with the progress being made. We now have the best chance. But the road has to happen. It is the only option

“There is going to be a lot more traffic from the Tadpole Farm and Ridgeway developments so we have to make sure this route happens.”