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MPs float new Gloucestershire Severn bridge crossing between Lydney and Sharpness


05-March-2014
 




by The Gloucester Citizen, Gloucestershire
 
Stroud and the Forest of Dean could be linked by a new bridge under a bold new idea being floated by MPs.

Conservatives Neil Carmichael (Stroud) and Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) met yesterday to discuss the possibility of building a new crossing.

Mr Carmichael said a crossing between Lydney and Sharpness would boost the economy in both those areas, lead to infrastructure improvements, and help ease traffic congestion on the A40 at Over.

^m talking about improving links to Dursley from the M5, better broadband for the area, and better links to Sharpness,^ he said.

^Clearly links to the Forest of Dean should be on the agenda and we are assessing options.

^It is at a very early stage but we are considering making a case.^

He said the idea is part of his Carmichael Commission, a project group charged with the task of making sure all parts of his constituency benefit from the rebalancing of the economy towards design, production and industry.

^It looks at the rural economy and how we can enhance economic growth in Berkeley, Sharpness, Cam and Dursley,^ he said.

^We need to make sure that area is properly looked at.

^There would have to be further upgrades of the surrounding roads and the question of tolls needs to be looked at too.^

Mr Harper is expected to raise the issue of tolls and a new Severn crossing in a Westminster debate today.

^A new Severn crossing would be an important piece of infrastructure for the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and the wider region, and one that requires serious consideration,^ he said.

^The exact location of any crossing needs to take a number of factors into account.

^The obvious ones are geography, engineering feasibility and cost.

^However, we also need to carefully consider the impact on communities in the wider area, including those who might be affected by increased or altered traffic flows.

^This is a matter that needs serious consideration, and I have asked Gloucestershire County Council to begin looking at this.

^m glad that Neil Carmichael is supportive of the principle of a new Severn crossing, and I would be happy to work with him to find the best option for our constituents.^

There are no road crossings between the M48 Severn Bridge connecting Bristol and south Wales and the Over bridge a mile north of Gloucester.

It means morning commuter traffic heading from the Forest of Dean and Newent to Gloucester and Cheltenham is jammed in long tailbacks.

The toll for a car travelling from England to Wales over the Severn Bridge stands at ^6.40 but it^s free of charge in the other direction.

The charge is the same on the Second Severn Crossing, south of the M48, which carries the M4 between Bristol and south Wales.

A new bridge could cut journey times and traffic queues and it is not without precedent.

The Severn Railway Bridge connected Sharpness and Lydney until two barges collided with the loss of five lives in 1960.

That bridge linked riverside communities and children from Berkeley and Dursley attending school in Lydney. That bridge was later demolished.

A ferry carried vehicles across the Severn between Aust and Beachley before the M48 bridge was opened in 1966.

Until the start of the 19th Century, the river was forded between Arlingham and Newnham and a passenger ferry operated there until just after the Second World War.

A new bridge could reconnect those communities, separated by three-quarters of a mile of the Severn river estuary.

^The benefits would be pretty widespread,^ said Mr Carmichael.

^Gloucester would benefit because of the traffic which would not have to go through Gloucester, so it also makes sense from that point of view.

^I want the Carmichael Commission to come back in the autumn with a report but I do want to hear from the public on what they think of the idea too.^

I really don't get the need for a new bridge. Who would benefit, exactly? If it's for traffic avoiding the M4 and M48 Crossings, then surely just cutting the tolls would be a better idea? I can't see the local or regional demand for such a route either - it links not a lot to nothing much - Too far south for Gloucester traffic, and too far north for Bristol. Plus both cities already have good links to south Wales in the forms of the M50 and M4. Silly idea, especially when there's a thousand other places that need transport investment much more urgently.

I agree with DavidBrown. This country has over the past 40 to 50 years lowered the funds (in real terms) from the national cake greatly in order to provide for a major increase in transfer spending. Investment only seems to happen when there is some dire emergency. The railways have had an increase in recent years because of several major rail disasters the causes of which were linked to lack of investment. We now have major flooding in several parts of the country much of which has been caused, at least partly, by reduced waterway maintenance. However now when there are flood disasters, the government announces major investment in flood prevention (or rather reduction in risk of flooding). Migration has created masses of infra structure problems as the majority of immigrants head for the big conurbations crammed far to many per home. This has lead to London and home county residents upping and moving out to areas such as where I live, i.e. West Oxfordshire, putting enormous pressure on roads, railways, forcing up house prices due to lack of housing, in total, to house everyone, pressure on hospital services, education, etc. If the ratio of spending between real services provision and transfer funding was put back to that of 50 years ago there would be a lot more cash available for real service provision. Locally on a very small scale Cotswold Line rail bus services are under threat of closure due to reduction in county council funding whilst at the same time the government is introducing free school meals for all 5 to 7 year olds leaving the county to find another ^9M and probably even more cuts in real services. A New Severn Bridge for Gloucestershire doesn't stand a cat in hell's chance of getting approval. End of rant!

LOL a little late but who would do this?? Seven bridge tolls bloody 8.00 or whatever. They should cut that.

Currently GBP6.60 for a car; Westbound only.

If you live in one of the many villages/small towns of Gloucestershire on the far side of the Severn, then this bridge makes good sense.

The loss of the rail bridge in the 1960s, and the rail line associated, removed an important transport link connecting the two parts of Gloucestershire.

I don't think any one is suggesting a major bridge, but it is a pity that councils are not allowed to raise money, these days, via bonds for infrastructure investments but have to beg the government and justify these investments.

Agree with Simon I've met someone whose schooling was directly affected by the closure of the Severn Bridge. it was our pilot from portishead to Sharpness. He has lived in Sharpness all his life and had just started at Lydney Grammar School travelling every day by train. Then the bridge was disabled and closed. Apparently they tried running a train from Sharpness round to Lydney via Glouster but it took too long. So Gloucestershire had to build another Grammer school on the East side.

Also agree about counciis raising bonds for infrastructure. projects.

If they were to build a bridge hopefully they'd have the sense to make it combined road rail bridge.Possibly reinstating the East Curve at Yate, although from the Satellite view from rail map online the Shire Way Community Centre might be in the way.

Wonder if the Admiralty would still insist on navigable clearance. Even if there are now now no sizeable ships on that stretch now Bullo Pill Dock is derelict.