PLANNING permission for a major scheme to ease traffic at one of the busiest traffic junctions in the county has been granted today, Thursday.

Gloucestershire County Council’s planning authority met this morning at Shire Hall to discuss the Elmbridge transport scheme, which aims to tackle the congestion hot spot on the A40 and to improve public transport between Cheltenham, Churchdown and Gloucester.

The county council scheme includes plans for a 1,000 space park and ride site near the Elmbridge Court Business Park, a series of improvements to the Elmbridge Court roundabout and priority bus measures on the approach to Arle Court roundabout.

The scheme will aim to cut congestion on the roundabout as well as reducing the number of cars travelling into Gloucester and Cheltenham which will cut congestion and emissions.

It will also improve bus service reliability and speed and promote economic growth by making travel easier.

In December 2011 the Department for Transport (DfT) awarded Gloucestershire County Council £14.1m towards the project with developer contributions also providing funding for the £16.5m project.

Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for transport planning, Cllr Will Windsor Clive, said: “With traffic levels at Elmbridge Court expected to increase significantly in the coming years making delays more likely, especially at peak times, this scheme is vital for the economic prosperity of the county.

“We are making adjustments to the roundabout to cut congestion and making bus services more attractive so that people can choose to take the bus rather than drive their car, at least for part of their journey if they wish.

“With this project and the recent C&G and Walls Roundabouts Improvement Scheme we are working hard to cut congestion on key routes in our county.”

It is hoped that the project could be completed by autumn 2016.

For more information on the scheme visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/elmbridgetransport