MULTI-MILLION pound improvements to one of the county's busiest roundabouts have been met with a luke-warm response at the first public consultation in Barnwood.
The Elmbridge Transport Major Scheme will provide 1,000 park and ride spaces and a transport interchange at a cost of £16.5 million.
Bus lanes will provide a 10-minute turn-up-and-go bus service between Gloucester and Cheltenham.
It is hoped the scheme will be completed by 2016. The first public consultation event staged at Sainsbury's in Barnwood on Monday was an opportunity to see the plans up on display.
It is hoped the scheme will help ease congestion in the area and encourage more people to shop in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Phil Raven, project manager from GCC Highways Agency, said: "It is a busy junction with a high accident record."
"It will provide an attractive alternative to people using their cars. Hopefully park and ride prices will compare favourably with current parking charges.
We will make sure the roads are clean and noise is kept at a minimum for residents."
The scheme aims to tackle A40 congestion. David Rolley, 75, lives on Barnwood Road and was one of the first to comment on the plans.
"I have to travel to Churchdown and Elmbridge three times a week and that roundabout can be a nightmare to negotiate, particularly at peak times," he said. "You can be waiting for 20 minutes to get through some times, so a change is long over due.
"It will no doubt cause a fair bit of disruption while the work is being done, but you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
"It will be worth it long term." Keith Mulley, 82, lives in Abbeymead, Gloucester.
"Road markings are just as important as an expensive travel scheme like this," he said.
"The roundabout can be very confusing about who has right of way, this could make things worse."
"Cars are very convenient, particularly for older people who can still drive.
"I'm not sure how many would choose to take the bus rather than drive."
A consultation will run until Monday, March 11. Longlevens library in Church Road will host an event tonight Wednesday, January 30 from 4-7pm with another at Churchdown Community Centre in Parton Road on Thursday from 12-5pm.
The Elmbridge Transport Major Scheme will provide 1,000 park and ride spaces and a transport interchange at a cost of £16.5 million.
Bus lanes will provide a 10-minute turn-up-and-go bus service between Gloucester and Cheltenham.
It is hoped the scheme will be completed by 2016. The first public consultation event staged at Sainsbury's in Barnwood on Monday was an opportunity to see the plans up on display.
It is hoped the scheme will help ease congestion in the area and encourage more people to shop in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Phil Raven, project manager from GCC Highways Agency, said: "It is a busy junction with a high accident record."
"It will provide an attractive alternative to people using their cars. Hopefully park and ride prices will compare favourably with current parking charges.
We will make sure the roads are clean and noise is kept at a minimum for residents."
The scheme aims to tackle A40 congestion. David Rolley, 75, lives on Barnwood Road and was one of the first to comment on the plans.
"I have to travel to Churchdown and Elmbridge three times a week and that roundabout can be a nightmare to negotiate, particularly at peak times," he said. "You can be waiting for 20 minutes to get through some times, so a change is long over due.
"It will no doubt cause a fair bit of disruption while the work is being done, but you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
"It will be worth it long term." Keith Mulley, 82, lives in Abbeymead, Gloucester.
"Road markings are just as important as an expensive travel scheme like this," he said.
"The roundabout can be very confusing about who has right of way, this could make things worse."
"Cars are very convenient, particularly for older people who can still drive.
"I'm not sure how many would choose to take the bus rather than drive."
A consultation will run until Monday, March 11. Longlevens library in Church Road will host an event tonight Wednesday, January 30 from 4-7pm with another at Churchdown Community Centre in Parton Road on Thursday from 12-5pm.