Controversial ‘bridge to nowhere’ near M5 to become ‘road to somewhere’

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Government funding has been secured to finish the design of the so-called “bridge to nowhere” over the railway line near Tewkesbury amid fears it will make traffic congestion worse.

Tewkesbury Borough Council says the bridge north of Ashchurch station will unlock development opportunities and enable the closure of the dangerous level crossing, which is a national priority for Network Rail.

A total of £89,500 in grant funding from Homes England has been secured which will allow the council’s Garden Communities team to complete the work near the M5 to finalise the technical elements of the bridge and set up a stewardship strategy to support the wider development.

The plans will then be passed to the North Ashchurch Consortium who will re-think the design, whilst ensuring it meets Network Rail’s technical requirements and then bring forward a co-ordinated planning application showing the bridge as part of the site wide plan.

The grant was offered in December 2024 to provide the sum of £89,500 to commission the work to complete the designs which are anticipated to be ready in Spring 2025.

And councillors last night (January 28) voted to accept the grant for the design work at their meeting as well £15,000 to support the development of a stewardship strategy for a comprehensive solution to the wider development proposal.

However, concerns were raised that the bridge would cause traffic congestion as it would link thousands of homes.

Council leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) said the bridge was initially brought forward in isolation without a wider scheme which meant its impact could not be properly assessed.

“The council has set out to learn lessons that if developments are being brought forward that there is a wider scheme,” he said.

“There was feedback at the time how the previous bridge sat within the landscape and whether it really suited the environment.

“The additional funding is to work on proposals with regards to the actual design of the bridge.”

But Councillor Mike Sztymiak (The Independents, Tewkesbury North and Twyning) raised concerns over the bridge and said he would vote against the proposals to accept the grant funding.

“I think the road becomes the road to somewhere,” he said. “Basically, two housing developments on either side of the railway. 650 on that side and maybe several thousand on the Ministry of Defence side.

“It seems to me once you put the bridge in, the traffic will come across. Where is it going to go? Through Northway or Bredon Road.

“Either way, this A46 improvement, if and when it does happen, with a new junction on the motorway we are talking about 2034 at the earliest. How is this going to happen?

“The congestion going through those two particular areas. It’s just going to lead to more logjams.

“They are all going to want to get to the M5 or M50. Building this bridge at this particular time isn’t going to make any improvements to it. It’s going to make things worse.”

Cllr Stanley said regardless the council worked to provide the infrastructure a developer would bring forward housing in the area.

He said the advantage in seeking government funding and working with the consortium that potentially unlocks spending on improvements for housing developments.

“If developers are funding the bridge then they are not funding the community spaces, assets, higher energy efficiency and other infrastructure which will improve people’s quality of life and the housing in the area.”

Conservative councillor David Gray (C, Winchombe and Woodmancote), speaking outside of the meeting, said he was happy with the grant funding and “loved a handsome bridge”.

“Assuming that will be the outcome of the design, and very happy that Homes England continues to show support for Tewkesbury’s ambitious plans to develop sustainable communities, delivering much needed housing and boosting economic growth,” he said.

The designs will be included in a planning application for the northern area of the Garden Communities, which will include a new central street through the site. The application, which will be submitted by the North Ashchurch Consortium, is anticipated this year.

Tewkesbury Borough Council previously identified a patch of land adjacent to Hardwick Bank Road where the potential Central Street may connect to the existing network.

The council’s Executive Committee recently voted to allow officers to discuss the future of the land and its potential to support the development.

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