Swindon Labour Group Leader Jim Grant Responds to Thamesdown Drive Extension Business Case Plan

This sounds like a small step in the right direction. And it is pleasing that the Conservative Group have moved from arguing to do nothing about the road at the start of January to allocating resources to convince government that this road is necessary by the end of the month. 

In response to the Conservative Group’s proposals to abandon the dualling of Mead Way and Akers Way and their announcement that they will agree for the Council to fund an outline business case for the Thamesdown Drive Extension Road to be presented to government, the Swindon Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, said:

“This sounds like a small step in the right direction. And it is pleasing that the Conservative Group have moved from arguing to do nothing about the road at the start of January to allocating resources to convince government that this road is necessary by the end of the month. I think this is thanks in no small part to the work of the Thamesdown Drive Extension Road Campaign Group and the large public meeting they called earlier this month, which showed the strength of feeling for this road to be delivered.

It also appears that the Conservative Group have forced Dale Heenan to change his position on the proposed dualling of Mead Way and Akers Way, with the Conservative Group now against what Councillor Heenan was proposing at the start of the month.

My fear remains that this is just a ploy to get beyond the elections in May without proper commitment to solving the traffic problem in the north and west of Swindon. Time will tell whether this is the case but what the Conservative Group can be sure of is the strength of feeling among the people in North and West Swindon who are determined to get this road delivered and will hold the Council to account if it doesn’t actively pursue this.”