UPGRADES to the A417 dubbed the ‘missing link’ have been raised with the European Commissioner for Environment by Gloucestershire County Council.

Cabinet member for highways Cllr Vernon Smith had the chance to raise the issue and the council’s loop solution with the, Karmenu Vella, last Thursday.

Cllr Vernon Smith was invited by South West MEP, and former Gloucestershire County Councillor, Julie Girling to take part in a roundtable event on air quality improvement in Bath.

Congestion on the A417 missing link is a major cause of air pollution in Gloucestershire.

Commissioner Vella’s visit was also an opportunity for Cllr Smith to talk about how proposals for the missing link road could improve the situation in Bath, by offering vehicles, particularly lorries routes that avoid urban areas.

The loop will replace the Highways Agency maintained single lane route from Cowley to Brockworth with a new dual carriageway and will include a new bypass of Nettleton Bottom.

It will also have an additional dual carriageway down Crickley Hill – as well as a number of highways improvements, including safer routes for walkers and cyclists.

It is hoped that the vital A417 Loop solution will cut accidents and lead to less congestion and pollution.

Councillor Smith said: “Fixing the A417 remains Gloucestershire County Council’s top infrastructure priority – it will cut accidents and congestion and boost jobs and growth across the whole county. “I was pleased Commissioner Vella listened carefully to what was being said and understood and supported the wider improvements to air quality that major infrastructure investments like the A417 missing link can make locally and more widely.

Last year the Department of Transport approved funding to the Highways Agency for the A417 Loop, as part of a £15 billion countrywide road improvement scheme.

Earlier this year, the County Council’s Cabinet agreed a further £1million cash injection to support the A417 missing link scheme.