CURRENTLY, at peak hours there is congestion for vehicles serving the Love Lane Industrial area, not only for cars, but also for the large commercial vehicles, which are the lifeblood of the many important businesses and jobs here. 

But in the future, this congestion is likely to deteriorate into gridlock, when the eastern site of the proposed Bathurst development of businesses and 675 homes is built, without mitigation for its transport requirements. 

Residential traffic from these new homes will run from the proposed Spratsgate Lane roundabout, by way of Wilkinson Road, Love Lane and Midland Road, and the ring road at the Fire Station roundabout to Swindon, Gloucester and elsewhere.

Gloucestershire Highways has previously expressed concern about existing traffic issues on Midland Road, between the Fire station roundabout and the Bridge Road mini-roundabout, but recently there was a successful appeal to build 88 homes at Siddington, which will increase the problem. There is very little scope to widen these roads to take the extra traffic.

During the working week, the Love Lane area is very busy with movements of coaches and commercial vehicles, including articulated lorries, which often have to wait in the road outside commercial premises, causing traffic jams.

For example when a car transporter delivers cars to Baylis premises in Midland Road, the highway is reduced to a single carriageway and traffic queues soon build up. Alexcars coaches have to back up into their depot across Love Lane. 

This is not a criticism of these and other companies – vehicle access is essential for their business and that is why they are now in the Love Lane estate. 

A large extra flow of commuter traffic will exacerbate existing problems. There is a risk that companies dependent on access for heavy lorries will transfer their business and jobs away from Cirencester.

The future prosperity of the Love Lane businesses and their employees is very important to Cirencester. 

If the developer wishes to build the 675 new homes proposed, then Bathurst Development Ltd should provide its own access which will not jeopardise the future prosperity of Love Lane and the employment of many local people. 

Might the Bathurst legacy be job losses in Love Lane?

JOHN NICHOLAS 
Cirencester