PLANS for a Thamesdown Drive extension have been dealt a heavy blow after a funding bid to the government proved unsuccessful.

Swindon Borough Council were seeking £1.27 million from the Department of Transport’s Large Local Schemes Fund to link the busy arterial route with Great Western Way.

The money would have been used to pay for a detailed design, all the environmental surveys, and the preparation of both a planning application and business case.

The funding was to be the first link in the chain, had the bid been successful the plan was to submit a further application for £44 million in two years’ time to see the project through to completion.

Swindon’s bid was up against 54 others – the total amount of money being sought amounted to three times the available pot. Only a dozen bids got the green light.

Highlighting how important it was that the initial bid succeeded, former cabinet member for highways, Coun Dale Heenan, suggested it was a make or break moment.

He said: “This is a critical moment because if the government says no to our bid then it’s unlikely anything else will happen for another ten years.”

Despite this, councillors are keeping a positive mindset around the rejection.

Coun Keith Williams, who has taken on the highways brief, said: “I am naturally disappointed our funding bid fell short as I felt we made a very strong case to the government.

“The good news is that the Department for Transport gave us some encouraging feedback and we intend to build on that to look at alternative ways of providing this much needed relief road.”

The Swindon Transport Strategy has said that demand on the town’s road network could increase by 48 per cent by 2026, predominately as a result of extensive house building.

Residents had hoped that a new road would reduce already significant congestion and provide drivers with an alternative to passing through built up areas to avoid traffic in peak periods.

Coun Williams was keen to point out that he fully understands those concerns.

“As a West Swindon councillor and resident I am acutely aware of the current pressures on our local road network,” he said.

“I want to assure people living in the west and north of the town that we will do everything we can to alleviate congestion.

“The Transport Strategy Review is an important part of that and we want to work with the local community over the coming year to identify some clear goals for keeping traffic moving on our roads.”