Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Introduction

The Highways Agency has published details of a scheme to bypass Blunsdon to the north east of Swindon. The A419/A417 trunk road is a key route for traffic travelling between the M4 (Swindon) and M5 (Gloucester).

The scheme is a development of the proposals which were the subject of a public consultation in March 2001 and would provide a dual carriageway bypass with grade separated junctions.

This Non-Technical Summary (NTS) leaflet describes the published scheme and summarises the Environmental Statement (ES) which has been published in accordance with EC Directives as applied by section 105A of the Highways Act. The ES accompanies the draft Orders which have been published for this scheme.

Why the Scheme is Needed

The A419 trunk road is a strategic route linking the M4 and M5 motorways, and links Swindon to the trunk and motorway network. Most of the route is already improved, but at Blunsdon the A419 is one of the remaining bottlenecks on an otherwise high standard trunk road route and is subject to a 50mph speed limit.

The present route of the A419 at Blunsdon follows the line of the Roman Road (Ermin Street) through the edge of the village.

Traffic congestion occurs at Turnpike Roundabout and at the junction with Lady Lane with long delays, particularly at peak times, causing driver frustration and traffic accidents. The A419 in Blunsdon is difficult to cross for pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and vehicles. The quality of the environment near the trunk road is poor due to high volumes of vehicles, high noise levels and associated uses of facilities at Turnpike.

The Published Scheme

The scheme would provide a dual carriageway bypass to the west of Blunsdon. At the southern end, Turnpike Roundabout would be replaced by two signal controlled junctions with a local road connecting them. One junction would be at Turnpike and the other close to Lady Lane. Lady Lane Junction would include a new bridge over the bypass. This would allow access to Blunsdon and Swindon and would allow traffic to flow freely on the A419. Turnpike Junction would maintain access to Cricklade Road and Thamesdown Drive. A dedicated pedestrian/cycle way would be provided on the local connecting road. Pedestrian/cycle phases would be incorporated in the signalised Lady Lane Junction.

A new bridleway bridge would be provided at the end of Widhill Lane to allow users to cross the bypass safely. Between the bottom of Blunsdon Hill and Lady Lane Junction, the bypass would include a third (climbing) lane. At the northern end of the bypass, an underbridge would be provided to maintain access to the landfill site and Upper Widhill Farm.

Most of the existing dual carriageway would be downgraded as part of the scheme. On Blunsdon Hill it would be scaled down to a single carriageway and between Lady Lane and Turnpike it would be altered or removed. The section remaining between Widhill Lane and Lady Lane would become the responsibility of Swindon Borough Council (SBC), and would provide SBC with an opportunity to implement further environmental improvements.

Alternatives Considered

Both off-line and on-line options were considered. It was concluded that the route of the proposed bypass was the most suitable option.

Three junction arrangements have been considered to provide the best solution in the vicinity of Turnpike Roundabout. These were an overpass at Turnpike Roundabout, a junction at Lady Lane with a direct road link to Thamesdown Drive, and the published proposals. The published scheme was considered the best arrangement in terms of least impact on landscape features, wildlife habitats, residential properties and land take.

Landscape

Landscape

Blunsdon Hill is widely visible from the Thames Vale landscape and has been classified as being of local importance.

Existing trunk road lighting is a significant source of night time light, particularly where the A419 passes over Blunsdon Hill. The lighting on Blunsdon Hill would be removed, and significant sections of the existing road would be scaled down.

As much existing vegetation as possible would be retained and additionally mounding and planting would assist in integrating the scheme with the landscape. Although the scheme would result in the removal of 5.5ha of existing tree and shrub vegetation, it is proposed to plant 14.5ha of vegetation.

15 years after opening, 141 of the residential properties assessed would have an improvement, 209 would have no change and 13 would have some increased intrusion in their views.

On balance the published scheme would have overall benefits in landscape and visual terms.

 

Night time photograph of Blunsdon Hill

 

 

1. View from Turnpike Roundabout: Indicative Photomontage of Scheme (Year 15)

 

2. View from Lady Lane Junction: Indicative Photomontage of Scheme (Year 15)

 

3. View from north of Blunsdon Hill: Indicative Photomontage of Scheme (Year 15)

Cultural Heritage

Archaeological sites identified in the vicinity of the scheme include prehistoric pits, an Iron Age ditch and a section of Roman Road (Ermin Street).

The setting of Upper Widhill Farm (a Grade II Listed building) would be adversely affected by the scheme. Earth mounding and localised planting would help soften the impact. From the archaeological surveys undertaken, the scheme is unlikely to have a significant effect.

Nature Conservation

A number of sites and habitats are present in the area including Upper Widhill Copse which is ancient woodland. Species rich hedgerows, breeding birds, amphibians, bats and Badgers are also present locally. The scheme avoids Upper Widhill Copse and includes wildlife fencing, planting to link wildlife corridors and substitute habitats. The scheme would result in a minor ecological impact.

Water

The River Ray, Bydemill Brook and South Marston Brook are the main surface water features. There is also a minor groundwater aquifer.

The scheme would include a drainage system to control both flow and quality of water run-off from the new road. The surface and groundwater quality and flows would not be affected.

Geology & Contaminated Land

Ash from Swindon Railway Works was used in the 1990s when the existing Turnpike Roundabout was built.

Disturbance of the ash would be minimised and contained during the new construction works.

Appropriate management techniques would ensure compliance with legislation and would be agreed with the Environment Agency.

The scheme would demolish the existing BP filling station which would be de-commissioned. Appropriate techniques during construction would minimise impacts and ensure contaminated material in the area would be suitably managed.

Land Use

About 15 hectares of Grade 3 agricultural land would be required for the scheme, some of which would be returned to agricultural use when the scheme is complete.

A new access would be provided for Upper Widhill Farm. Land remaining could still be farmed.

Rights of Way and Community Effects

There are three footpaths and one bridleway, as well as foot/cycleways along the A419. The scheme would provide dedicated routes for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians to separate them from the bypass traffic. This would include a bridleway bridge at Widhill Lane.

The scheme would significantly improve access across the A419 and enhance recreational opportunities. Reduced traffic volumes on the existing A419 would improve community access and amenity, and reduce severance.

Noise

Residential properties close to the A419 are currently exposed to noise from high volumes of traffic. About 98% of the traffic on the existing trunk road would transfer onto the bypass. Most of the bypass to the west would be in cutting and the scheme would also include noise fencing and areas of earth mounding.

When the scheme opens, an estimated 479 houses of the 1650 properties assessed would experience a noticeable reduction in noise and 97 would experience a noticeable increase. Most of the increases in noise would be less than 3 decibels, where as most of the decreases in noise would be greater than 3 decibels. The smallest change in environmental noise that is generally noticed by an individual is 3 decibels.

Air Quality

The scheme would result in an overall improvement in air quality because of reduced congestion and improved traffic flow. An estimated 196 properties would experience better local air quality and 155 would experience a deterioration in local air quality.

Construction works could have the potential to create dust and traffic emissions. Strict controls and standard good practice would ensure construction dust would be negligible and would not cause a nuisance.

Vehicle Travellers

Although closure of the facilities at Turnpike Roundabout would reduce amenity, the scheme would considerably reduce congestion and travellers would benefit from reduced stress.

 View of existing A419 from Upper Widhill Farm

Further Information

Copies of this NTS leaflet can be obtained free of charge and copies of the ES can be purchased from the Highways Agency:

Sarah Watkin
Highways Agency - Zone 2/26H
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6HA

Telephone: 0117 372 8048

Email: a419blunsdon@highways.gsi.gov.uk

• Volume 1 - Environmental Statement - £50 (including Volume 3 - Figures)
• Volume 2 - Technical Appendices - £15 each (including relevant Figures)

Alternatively a CD of the full Environmental Statement Volumes 1, 2 and 3 may be ordered at a cost of £10.