A SUGGESTED NEW BRIDGE WHICH WILL SAVE A 25-MILE DETOUR_
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ASCHEME of the utmost importance to motor vehicle users whose lorries run between London, the West of England and South Wales is to engage the attention of the Cardiff, Newport and Bristol Town Councils and the Gloucestershire County Council. The proposal is that a bridge, for.road traffic, should be built across -the Severn some 12 miles below Gloucester city, and so shorten the through journe5,from London to South Wales by at least 25 miles, In addition to shortening the route the bridge Would avoid the necessity for traffic passing through Gloucester city, whilst a stretch of narrow road by the Severn would be avoided.
The scheme as at present outlined, would cost £250,000, and the cost, it is suggested, should be proportionally borne not only by the authorities already named, but by the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Countir Councils and several urban authorities directly affected by the scheme. It is pointed out, also, that the present is an opportune moment for obtaining a substantial Government grant towards the carrying out of the project, on account of the sympathetic consideration which the Ministries of Transport,
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and Health give to schemes likely to absorb a percentage of unemployed.
The first definite step towards the fulfilment of the scheme was taken on January Otis, when the concrete proposals were discussed, in accordance with prior notice of motion, at the East Dean IJ.D.C., the governing body of a coal and industrial area connecting the Monmouthshire and Gloucestershine ad
ministrative areas. At, this meeting a resolution was passed urging the need for financial grants to be made immediately in order that the scheme might be put in band. The county council was also asked to point out to the Government that such a bride as that at Newnharn was urgently needed and was of national importance, being requisite to the altered conditions of road traffie.
In addition to municipal and county authorities, al' Chambers of Trade and Commerce in the areas nre to be canvassed in order to secure undivided their support.
In South Wales the scheme has been favourably received in business circles and is fooled Ivan as a desirable link in the development of the English-Welsh trade facilities already enhanced since the war 'by the intensifying and aiigment
ing of West Country-South Wales coastal trade, and the projected inland waterway scheme (that has already been assured Government support) of developing South Wales-Midland Counties commerce.
The project is by no means new, for, as detailed by Mr. Westlake, in 1877 a scheme for a bridge was strongly supported, and could have been built for £25,000. In 1894 the Gloucestershire County Council was petitioned by signatories representing a quarter of the rateable value of the county. Monmouth and Gloucester counties, which stand to gain most by the bridge, have a joint population of a million people: but if Glamorgan and the adjoining' English counties be included the population to be served would be 4,500,000.
It is claimed that the Government grant. towards the scheme would not be less than 60 per cent. of the total cost, so that for the huge area immediately served by the bridge only £100,000 expenditure would be entailed. By instituting a id. rate per annum for the whole area, it isstated that in 50 years the capital cost, with interest on borrowed money, could be entirely wiped