The key to the Missing Link is now in sight for the A417

Following the recent delegation to hand in Gloucestershire County Council’s petition supporting the A417 Loop Scheme to Number 10 Downing Street, it has been announced that the Highways Agency has recognised local concerns about the route and highlighted the issue in its Route Based Strategy Report.

Following the recent delegation to hand in Gloucestershire County Council’s petition supporting the A417 Loop Scheme to Number 10 Downing Street, it has been announced that the Highways Agency has recognised local concerns about the route and highlighted the issue in its Route Based Strategy Report.

The report follows a campaign by Gloucestershire County Council to support the A417 Loop - a £255 million scheme to improve the road and the delegation included Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council; Dr Diane Savory OBE DL, Chair, GFirst LEP; Laurence Robertson MP and Richard Graham MP.

Dr Diane Savory OBE DL, Chair, GFirst LEP said: “The A417 is a major strategic route from the Midlands to London. Finding a solution to the Missing Link is key to unlocking the prosperity of the county which is why it features as our number one transport priority outlined in our Strategic Economic Plan.

I’m delighted that the A417 Loop is now included in the Highways Agency Route Based Strategy Report. This means we’re one step closer to finding a solution to the 5km stretch of the A417 - known locally as the Missing Link which is notorious for congestion and fatal accidents.

The challenge now will be to secure the £255m funding needed as part of the Government’s 2015 spending priorities to build the Loop.”