Extending Thamesdown Drive. Residents’ organisations speak out. Politicians agree it should be built, but when?

A public meeting organised by five residents’ associations across North and West Swindon on 13 January put the issue of the long promised completion of Thamesdown Drive to Great Western Way back on the agenda.

It followed the publication by Swindon Council of a consultants’ report in December to investigate options to relieve traffic congestion on the west side of the town, which sees daily gridlock on Akers Way into the town centre, and Mead Way which runs through West Swindon.

Whilst completing Thamesdown Drive is a desirable objective, the consultants say securing over £50 million to build it will be difficult and they suggested a number of other lower cost options including turning all or parts of Akers Way and Mead Way into dual carriageways.

In response to the public meeting, lobbying of councillors by residents and the town’s two MPs, the council has set up a cross party Future Infrastructure Working Group to look at the transportation network of the town, including extending Thamesdown Drive and building a commuter railway station off Purton Road.

The much needed regeneration of Cheney Manor Industrial Estate - accessed from Akers Way - is also to be included in a study of employment opportunities and the impact on the current road network.

Kevin Fisher, chair of Shaw Residents’ Association sajd: “This road will take 5 to 10 years to complete, so a start must be made soon. If you think traffic congestion is bad now, imagine what the west side of the town will be like in ten years if the council and central government don’t get a grip on this project?

“There is 455,000 square feet of employment space available to rent along the Mead Way corridor and Cheney Manor Industrial Estate requires regeneration. If the economy improves traffic on the existing network will become intolerable.”

Swindon Link and Shaw Residents’ Association have put together a short survey on Survey Monkey. Click to launch the survey with details of a prize draw.

Council leader councillor David Renard believes the Thamesdown Drive to Great Western Way relief road is one of the great challenges facing Swindon. "My Conservative administration has made 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.”

Cllr Dale Heenan, cabinet member for transport, commented: “Residents have had 20 years of promises by politicians to build this road, and been let down every time. We will also investigate what other improvements can be made to the roads around West and North Swindon to help reduce traffic congestion. But we disagree with the consultants of the recent feasibility study: we do not believe that dualling Mead Way or Akers Way is the answer.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland welcomed the setting up of the transportation infrastructure working group, adding: “I accept that the development of this road project will take time and I will continue to work with the council and the government to help make this a reality.”

He and North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson have been lobbying in Westminster for the road to be built and met with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on a visit to Swindon in August 2013 to discuss completing Thamesdown Drive - pictured above. The Chancellor told Swindon Link at the time that the town needs a ring road and he looked forward to representations from Swindon Council and further discussions with the MPs.

Labour’s parliamentary election candidates Mark Dempsey for North Swindon and Anne Snelgrove for South Swindon have come up with their own roadmap to deliver the extension.

Mark Dempsey said: "A Northern Link Road is very important to create a proper route into the town centre from Thamesdown Drive and alleviate gridlock on Akers Way and Mead Way.  Labour will commission a shovel ready plan for the road funded from the council’s infrastructure budget.”

Anne Snelgrove added: “I am very concerned about the effect on family homes in West Swindon. The decision to set up yet another talking shop instead of getting on with the Northern Link Road is deeply frustrating.”

However North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson welcomed the announcement that the case for the road is to be made more clearly by Swindon Council. He said: “Myself and Robert Buckland will continue to push on this much needed scheme once Swindon Borough Council has worked up shovel ready plans. Swindon is a growing town and the government has repeatedly supported projects to further this. Rightly Swindon Council are working with highways’ experts to make sure the final scheme is effective and well planned.”

Pictured top, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne reviewing plans a ring road on the west side of Swindon with Robert Buckland MP, left, and Justin Tomlinson MP on a visit to the town in August 2013. Below, a notional route to extend Thamesdown Drive to Great Western Way