Gloucestershire cycle park to close again for Missing Link scheme

Angela Ruskin said having to temporarily close the park again is ‘upsetting’

BBC Angela Ruskin photographed it on FlyUp 417 in Gloucestershire. Angela has long blonde hair and wears a black and white spotted blouse with a black cardigan. — Angela Ruskin said having to temporarily close the park again is ‘upsetting’

The owner of a bike park says the impact of roadworks has been “horrendous” on their business.

The FlyUp 417 cycle park in Witcombe, Gloucestershire, is to close again for five months while National Highways carry out work on the A417 Missing Link project.

A new dual carriageway is being built to replace an accident hotspot near the hot air balloon roundabout.

A National Highways spokesman said the organization had worked “extensively” to minimize disruption to the cycle park.

Angela and Simon Ruskin run the leisure facility and live on site.

In June, the couple had to closes the park for six weeks to enable National Highways to carry out works.

The bike park in is directly on the path of the Missing Link project

Site of the FlyUp 417 cycle park in Gloucestershire. A dirt track can be seen across the fields, and trees are scattered around. — The bike park in is directly on the path of the Missing Link project

Mrs Ruskin said it was “a shock” and “upsetting” to have to close again.

“There are kids who rely on it for their physical and mental health. Also adults.

“It’s devastating for people, but they’re right behind us.

“They love this place and want to keep it going.”

Ms Ruskin added that their customers are “the best” and have remained supportive throughout the closures.

It is hoped the £460m road scheme between Gloucester, Cirencester and Swindon will ease traffic congestion on the stretch of the single carriageway which runs past Birdlip.

As well as the three-mile (4.8km) motorway between Gloucester and Cirencester, a number of ‘green bridges’ will also be built to boost wildlife in the area.

Work has begun on the scheme in March.

The road scheme is designed to improve traffic congestion and an accident black spot on the A417

National highways Concept image of the Missing Link project. Roads can be seen under a green bridge. Cars travel on the roads in both directions. — The road scheme is designed to improve traffic congestion and an accident black spot on the A417

Steve Foxley, project director for the A417 Missing Link, said: “We appreciate that any work, particularly for such a major project, can cause disruption to nearby businesses and we are doing everything we can to minimize this disruption as much as possible while working under the Development Agreement Order.

“We have worked intensively throughout this year to minimize, as far as possible, the impact on FlyUp arising from the implementation of this vital scheme.

“In order to deliver the Development Consent Order, safe works in the vicinity of their businesses required another temporary closure over the winter period.

“We remain committed to working with them and all stakeholders and our neighbors.”

The new road is expected to be completed and open by 2027.