ONLY a united front will keep the pressure on to fix the Missing Link – that was the message being made at Downing Street yesterday, Thursday.

Gloucestershire County Council leader Mark Hawthorne took the county’s 4,800-name petition to Number 10, calling for £255 million in Government cash to build the A417 Loop.

The petition included the names of Gloucestershire residents and businesses who have already signed up to the county council campaign to finally fix the controversial road.

Cllr Hawthorne, who was joined by MPs Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Laurence Robertson and Richard Graham, and GFirst chairman Dr Diane Savory, said the fight was far from over.

“We have the support of all the district councils in Gloucestershire, MPs, parishes and business leaders, and nearly 5,000 residents," he added.

“This alone shows the Government that we know the A417 Loop is the right solution to this controversial road.

“But the campaign is by no means over. We want the whole of the county to get behind this scheme – the more people who sign up, the more the powers-that-be will have to sit up and listen.”

The Downing Street visit follows news that the 'missing link' has been added to a Highways Agency list of roads in the south west that need major improvements because of capacity, safety and environmental issues.

The road’s appearance on the route strategy report means it is one step closer to finding funding when the Government allocates cash in spring 2015.

Local business owners and commuters are encouraged to show their support for the A417 Loop by signing up and pledging their backing at www.a417missinglink.co.uk or emailing us at info@a417missinglink.co.uk. You can also follow us at @A417Loop on Twitter.