List of Gloucestershire roads to be resurfaced this year thanks to axing of northern leg of HS2

A list of Gloucestershire roads which will be resurfaced in the coming months due to the axing of the final stages of HS2 has been revealed.

Gloucestershire County Council is set to benefit to the tune of £5.6m over the next two years for highways repair work.

This extra funding was allocated to Shire Hall after the Government’s decision to cancel the Manchester and East Midlands Parkway legs of the planned high-speed 2 rail line.

County Council leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley) told today’s cabinet meeting (November 22) that this means the authority has already “had a dollop of money” which can go towards road schemes in Gloucestershire

“The extra money is being released following the Government’s decision to not continue with some of the final stages of HS2.

“That £8.3bn that the Government has redistributed across the country. That means we are receiving an extra £2.8m. Money we need to spend in this financial year and another £2.8m next year.

“Officers have been frantically working out how we can deliver that £2.8m in the best way. I’m pleased to announce that we are going ahead with a grand total of eight resurfacing schemes before the financial year ends.”

The list includes: The Park in Cheltenham, Suffolk Square in Cheltenham, Aston Magna in Batsford, Limes Road, Kemble to Kemble Wick, Gloucester Road, Hartpury, Bourton Road and Kemble Road in Tuffley, Main Road in Ruscombe, and Evesham Road in Toddington.

Chief executive Pete Bungard punched the air in celebration as the list was read out and remarked that one of the roads to be resurfaced is his journey into work.

Cllr Hawthorne explained that the authority is in talks with contractors Tarmac and officers are working on what routes they would be able to spend next year’s £2.8m on.

“As you can imagine, suddenly having the very good news of the £2.8m you’ve got to find the schemes you think you can deliver. That’s overall excellent news and I’m sure it will be welcomed by those areas.”

Environment and planning cabinet member David Gray (C, Winchcombe and Woodmancote) said it was good news particularly for some of the county’s more rural communities who have felt left out.

“The fact that the County Council is putting money into some of the more rural locations is excellent news,” he said.

“Some of the conditions of those roads fully warrant application of the funds. I know for the residents of Toddington and beyond it will make a very big difference.”

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter