April 2021
Newsletter #17
It’s only a few weeks since TAAG's last newsletter but, as you may have seen, the recent mail drop from Cllr Vernon Smith included his thoughts on the M5/J9 A46 Business Case. As this provides some details on a potential route, it might be helpful to summarise our interpretation and how this aligns with our position.
Full Details Located on the Newsletters Reports Tab.
Stop Press 23/04/21
In the interests of maintaining political neutrality, we have contacted each of the other three candidates standing in the local parish election on May 6th to ask for their views on the new bypass.
Email sent 27/3/21 and chased 22/4/21. To date, we have not heard from Chris Coleman (Liberal Democrat) or Zoe Darlington (Labour).
We received the following general transport comment on behalf of Jan Millett (Green Party):
“The Green position is to improve travel and public transport opportunities whilst maintaining existing networks for all users which we feel should be prioritised over any new roads. We follow Transport Action Network very closely too and tend to agree with their position.”
|
March 2021
Newsletter #16
While there has been little news in the last three months, there are a few matters to update you on. TAAG also thought it would be useful to provide a summary on where we currently are.
Located on the Newsletters Reports Tab.
|
February 2021
Western Gateway have approved and published the final version of their Strategic Transport Plan.
Located on the Newsletters Reports Tab. |
December 2020
TAAG Newsletter #15 December 2020, a 'comprehensive update' published and is available on the Newsletters and Reports Tab.
Transport Action Network have just launched another Legal Action against the use of the “National Policy Statement for National Networks”, adopted in 2014 and still in use. Details can be found on the External Links Campaign Bodies Tab.
Western Gateway Published the final draft of their Strategic Transport Plan, it can be found on the Newsletters Reports Tab. The Document is under review by TAAG and feedback will be provided soon.
TAAG have just received this communication from Gloucestershire County Council via our Parish Council. The public consultation on the route options we were expecting to happen early next year, has been postponed until Summer 2021.
This is really frustrating, although we suspected it could happen.
We had planned to get a newsletter out before Christmas which we will still do. We'll include any clarification or additional information we can glean about the reasons for this delay.
Statement.
"In January 2020, Gloucestershire County Council applied to the Department for Transport’s Large Local Majors fund to finance the proposed M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme. Since then, we have been moving forward with our business case development work: a key element of this process is the non-statutory route options consultation that was scheduled for January 2021.
Both the M5 and the A46 through Ashchurch are on the national Strategic Road Network and are managed by Highways England, so we need to work closely with Highways England with any plans that we have for these roads. However, Highways England have indicated that they need more time to consider the route option proposals in detail before we go out to public consultation.
Unfortunately, the earliest that Highways England will be able to give us their views is in the new year and with the local elections in May and the corresponding pre-election period which begins in March, it will not now be possible to hold the consultation, planned for January, before summer next year.
The county council recognises the importance of the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme to the county’s future development and prosperity and we will continue to provide updates on the progression of this scheme. Please visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/J9 for the latest information."
|
November 2020
National Infrastructure Strategy Presented to Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Command of Her Majesty 25th November 2020. Can be found on the Newsletters Reports Tab.
Midlands Connect's 20-year improvement plan for the A46 Published and can be found on the Newsletters Reports Tab.
RED KITES
Do you have any photos of the red kites seen flying over our villages this year? TAAG have secured the help of the Gloucestershire Raptor Monitoring Group (GRMG) to try to find evidence of the kites breeding in this area. Although they are not endangered, their nests are protected and if we can find evidence, we may be able to use that evidence to challenge any proposed route. The GRMG have asked us to provide any photographs we have, particularly from the Summer months as that is when juveniles would be seen flying.
Could you please send any photographs you may have and are happy to share with GRMG to jan.catbells@gmail.com with a date and location (Grid reference if possible) of when and where the photograph was taken.
Thank you.
|
October 2020
Gloucestershire County Council has recently published their design options for the M5 J10 Improvement Scheme for public consultation. Full details can be found on the Newsletters Reports Subscribe Tab
The consultation closes on 25 November 2020.
Added details of the planning process that the M5 J9 and A46 changes must follow to the Planners section of the External Links Tab.
Following our virtual meeting with Cllr. Mel Gore, she has offered to organise a meeting (including the Parish Council) with the Tewkesbury Garden Town Team for an update on the Masterplan. TAAG will also want to discuss with them, their views on the nature and route of the new road."
Letters and copy of the TAAG Teddington & Alstone Villages Joint Submission sent to the following seeking support in our campaign to ‘To prevent any expansion or realignment of the A46 which would have a detrimental effect on our villages and residents’.
Laurence Robertson MP
Cllr. Vernon Smith
Cllr. Nigel Moor
Cllr. Cate Cody
Cllr. Mel Gore
Cllr. Jim Mason
Cllr. John Cordell
Cllr Patrick Molyneux
John Mills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Cotswolds) |
August 2020
Added
Newsletter #14 August 2020 Teddington & Alstone Villages Submission to VS and GCC
Teddington & Alstone Villages - Submission To GCC Highways
M5 Junction 9 & A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme Proposal Final 26/08/2020
Newsletter #13 August 2020 - Newsletter from the Joint Working Party of members of TAAG and the Parish Council GCC on the Highways M5 Junction 9 & A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme Proposal
Newsletter #12 August 2020 – TAAG Future Strategy Survey Results Published
Details and Links are on the Newsletters and Reports Tab.
|
July 2020
Latest News from Gloucestershire Highways added to the July 2020 section.
Changes will and are happening!
Added TAAG Feedback to Western Gateway on their Draft Strategic Transport Plan.
Added Transport Action Network's Feedback on Western Gateway Strategic Transport Plan.
Published Newsletter #11 and Newsletter Update
Details and Links are on the Newsletters and Reports Tab. |
June 2020
Western Gateway published their Draft Strategic Transport Plan 2020-2025. Interesting to note that they have included reference to changes they may have to make based on the current pandemic and the potential changes in demand. WG are currently seeking feedback from stakeholders, businesses, residents, and communities on the draft Plan.
Climate Change Committee submitted their 2020 Report to Parliament.
Added to Newsletters Reports Tab. |
May 2020
Added Newsletter #10 Interim Update to Newsletters and Reports Tab
Added details to External Links Section of 'Transport Action Network'. They are seeking to take the Government to court over the “largest ever” roads programme. The link to crowdfunding to support this action is also included.
Transport ActionNetwork's 'Pre Action Protocol Letter For Judicial Review' has been added to the Newsletters & Reports Tab.
Added House of Commons Briefing Paper on RIS2 to Newsletters & Reports Tab
|
April 2020
Several meeting have been cancelled with reports/publications also being delayed. All sources are still being reviewed on a regular basis for updates.
|
March 2020
Newsletter #9 Spring Budget & RIS2 Implications added to Newsletters and Reports Tab
Added Highways England Road Investment Strategy 2 2020-2025 to Reports Tab
Added March 2020 Budget in Reference to the A46 to Reports Tab
Newsletter #8 Local Transport Plan added to Newsletters and Reports Tab
|
February 2020
Updated Western Gateway link to dedicated website.
Added Midland Connect Alternative Futures Study January 2020 to Reports Tab.
Newsletter #7 Published and can be found on the Newsletters and Reports Tab.
TAAG has updated our website to industry standards to provide a secure Internet, even though we do not handle sensitive information via our site. When visiting our site you may notice that the beginning of the web address has changed from http to https, thereby encrypting any communication between your computer/mobile and our site.
Cllr Vernon Smith report to Teddington and Alstone Parish Council added to reports section.
|
January 2020
Added GCC Local Transport Plan and consultation to reports section.
Two independent documents added to reports section as to how Tewkesbury performs in terms of climate change.
A46 Renewable Energy Innovation 'revised date letter' added to reports section.
|
November 2019
Formal Go-ahead to Western Gateway given Link
TAAG responded to Tewkesbury Borough Plan Pre-Submission Consultation, it can be found on the Newsletters and Reports page.
|
October 2019
The independent report produced by Gerald Kells is now finished along with the TAAG summary and is available on our reports page.
Newsletter #6 Published and can be found on the Newsletters and Reports Tab tab
|
August 2019
Interim Update added detailing the brief for commissioning Gerald Kells to produce a report representing a robust independent summary of arguments and challenges from the specific perspective of Teddington & Alstone
Added external link to Landscapes for Life AONB
|
July 2019
Western Gateway published brief details as to the changes proposed for M5 J9 to the Teddington Hands roundabout, along with estimated costs, details can be found on their website Western Gateway
Newsletter #5 added to the Newsletters and Reports page.
|
June 2019
Report from Midlands Connect in reference to funding added to the Newsletters and Reports page.
Added external link to Western Gateway.
Atkins report added to the Newsletters and Reports page.
|
February 2019
TAAG members met with representatives of Midland Connect to discuss the possible implications for us as to any changes in Gloucestershire, limited information available but details are available in Newsletter #4.
Members of our group met with representatives of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (Gloucestershire Branch). We provided detailed feedback on our concerns and they will look to support us in anyway they can. Further details to follow.
|
January 2019
The Teddington and Alstone A46 Advisory Group met with Laurence Robertson, Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury. The group expressed our concerns as to the possible redevelopment of the A46 and the possible consequences on our villages. Discussions proved productive, Mr Robertson fully understood the concerns and has promised to look into the issues raised and provide us with feedback in the near future.
|
