Controversial Air Balloon roundabout scheme scrapped (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Controversial Air Balloon roundabout scheme scrapped

5:05pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News By Laura Shack

THE Highways Agency has scrapped plans for a right turn ban at the Air Balloon roundabout.

The decision follows today's announcement by Gloucestershire County Council that it would no longer back the scheme or provide £45,000 of funding towards the £78,500 trial.

A statement released by the Highways Agency said:

"Since March 2012 we have been working in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council on a preliminary assessment of the scheme and liaising with our partners on the potential risks and impacts of the trial.

"As part of the assessment we have been waiting for advice from the council on the most appropriate way to engage with the public and local residents on the proposal. Plans for the trial generated considerable public interest and we felt it was essential that we consider the views raised by local residents, road users and local councillors before proceeding further.

"As Gloucestershire County Council has now announced it no longer wishes to support the trial we do not think it is appropriate to progress the proposal further.

We will however continue to work with the council on finding alternative solutions to the congestion issues at Air Balloon Roundabout.

We are also liaising with Cotswold District Council on the important issue of air quality in the vicinity of the junction and adjacent properties. The site is the subject of an Air Quality Management Area Order managed by the District Council and it is imperative that any proposals to ease congestion do not result in an overall worsening of air quality."

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