GFIRST LEP is in the process of commissioning research with businesses to understand the economic impacts of bottlenecks on the motorway and trunk road network in Gloucestershire.

We are asking businesses to assist in this research by completing an on-line survey.

This evidence will help GFirst LEP in identifying its investment priorities in its Strategic Growth Plan to secure funding from Government.

A strong evidence base will help attract the funding required to improve the roads in and around Gloucestershire, which will ultimately help to reduce the costs of road congestion to businesses.

The problems to be tackled by the improvements are: • M5 Junction 9 at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury: this junction serves a major development area for mixed residential and business use but the current A46 single carriageway to and from the junction suffers long traffic delays at peak times.

• M5 Junction 10, North West of Cheltenham: with no access to the M5 southbound at this junction, traffic is forced to travel along congested routes through Cheltenham, increasing journey times and costs.

• A417 “Missing Link” between Brockworth and Nettleton Bottom: The A417 is a continuous high-standard dual carriageway connecting to the M4 to the east of Swindon and the Thames Valley, but the missing link at Cheltenham means that it cannot currently meet its full potential as a strategic route connecting the M5 and M4. this section is highly congested and is very susceptible to accidents and breakdowns, causing regular delays and unpredictable journey times.

We are proposing two strands of research: first, an online survey, and second, detailed interviews with a small cross-section of businesses that make use of the motorway and trunk road network.

We need to fully understand the economic benefits to the county’s businesses of implementing these schemes. To do this we need your help by completing the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com. This survey will only take no more than 10 minutes to complete and all respondents will be entered into our prize draw. Please enter your contact details at the end of the survey for your chance to win £100.

Please complete the survey before Friday 16th August, as your views are important to us for this vital work.