ANOTHER significant crash on a notorious Gloucestershire road this month has promoted a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport.

Gloucestershire County Council's deputy leader Ray Theodoulou has written to the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP following a crash on the A417 on September 10 which shut the road for nine hours.

The letter asks the Secretary of State to consider the plight of those using the 5km stretch of the A417 near Nettleton Bottom, which connects the M4 and M5, and explains the need for the A417 Loop solution.

The A417 loop solution involves changing the problematic road to reduce collisions, congestions and pollution. It could cost up to £225 million.

In his letter Cllr Theodoulou said: "On September 10 there was another serious collision on the A417, this time involving a car and a skip vehicle. Not only did that result in the driver of the car being airlifted to hospital, but it also closed the road from 10am until 7pm, causing travel chaos for miles around.

"This is happening far too often and it is important this stretch of road is improved and the crashes and congestion are brought to an end," he added.

The Transport Secretary is already aware of the issue as he visited in July and witnessed extent of the problem.

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

“Gloucestershire County Council will keep campaigning to get this problem fixed," added Cllr Theodoulou. "So far more than 6,200 people and businesses have backed the loop by pledging their support.

Visit a417missinglink.co.uk for more.