Gloucestershire M5 junction 10 petition passes 1,000

A petition asking for full access on to the M5 in Gloucestershire at junction 10 has had 1,000 signatures in a month.

The online petition was created in October after plans were announced to close the A4019 for a year to carry out repairs on the motorway bridge nearby.

Drivers are currently only able to join the M5 northbound or exit the M5 southbound at the Cheltenham junction.

The Highways Agency said £12m will be spent on "urgent repairs" as the bridge is nearing the end of its working life.

Whilst the work is being carried out, petitioners are calling for full access to be created to the M5 which they say "is long overdue".

The bridge carries the A4019 - one of the main routes between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury - over the motorway and local councillors are concerned the lengthy closure would have a serious effect on the residents, visitors and local economy in the nearby towns.

Gloucestershire's chief fire officer, Jon Hall, has also criticised the closure saying it would "slow attendances" for emergency calls.

Work has been scheduled to begin in March 2012.