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Bike park facing 'horrific' impact from roadworks

BBC Angela Ruskin photographed at the FlyUp 417 site in Gloucestershire. Angela has long blonde hair and is wearing a black and white spotted blouse with a black cardigan. BBC
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 "horrific" on their business.

The FlyUp 417 bike park at Witcombe, Gloucestershire, is to close again for five months while National Highways carries out work as part of the A417 Missing Link project.

A new dual carriageway is being built to replace an accident hotspot, close to the Air Balloon Roundabout.

A spokesperson from National Highways said the organisation has worked "extensively" to minimise disruption to the bike park.

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

In June, the couple had to close the park for six weeks to allow for National Highways to carry out work.

The site of the FlyUp 417 bike park in Gloucestershire. A dirt track can be seen in the fields, and there are trees dotted around.
The bike park in lies directly in the path of the Missing Link project

Ms Ruskin said it was "a shock" and "upsetting" to have to close again.

"There are kids that rely on this for their physical health and their mental health. Adults too.

"It is devastating for people, but they are right behind us.

"They love this place and they want it to continue."

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 reduce traffic congestion at the single-carriageway bottleneck stretch past Birdlip.

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

Work began on the scheme in March.

National Highways Concept image of the Missing Link project. Roads can be seen underneath a green bridge. Cars are driving along the roads in both directions. National Highways
The road scheme is designed to improve a traffic bottleneck and accident blackspot on the A417

Steve Foxley, Project Director for the A417 Missing Link, said: “We appreciate that any works, particularly on such a major project, can cause disruption for nearby businesses and do all we can to minimise that disturbance as much as possible whilst working in accordance with the Development Consent Order.

“We have worked extensively through this year to minimise as far as practically possible the impacts on FlyUp arising from the delivery of this vital scheme.

"To deliver the Development Consent Order works safely in the vicinity of their business has necessitated a further temporary closure over the winter period.

"We remain committed to working with them and all our stakeholders and neighbours”.

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

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