A pensioner has been “forced” to build a £6million tunnel after roadworks cut his home off.
Brian Garlick, 69, cannot reside in his home next to the A417 – a three mile-long dual carriageway which is now under construction between Gloucester and Cirencester until next year.
He has claimed that National Highways has withdrawn their previous offer to buy the property for £750,000.
As a result, a specially built tunnel must be built so that Garlick can access his home when the road opened up – costing the government agency from £4m to £6m.
The Missing Link is a three miles of a single-lane carriageway on the A417 between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley Roundabout, Gloucestershire
National Highways
Currently, the tunnel has been planned to be a short distance from his house, although specific details still must be finalised.
The pensioner, living alone in a caravan park while the building work is carried out, must give 21 days’ notice before he accesses his house.
He said: “At first I was a little bit shocked (at the suggestion of a tunnel) and a little bit over the top but when you looked at it there was no real other alternative for them.
“If they had paid me out like they initially said that would have been it.”
After Garlick explained how he had hoped to sell off his house to the agency, National Highways informed him that it was “unable” to make the purchase as the property sits beyond the scheme’s boundary so it “had no viable route to do so”.
LATEST NEWS:
He added: “The way they have handled everything has been absolutely diabolic.
“I live in a fifth wheel caravan – and I had to buy it myself. The contractors are only paying for the costs of the campsite fees and the petrol.
“I still have to pay the council tax, electricity and all the bills for the house.
“I have never had an apology from National Highways. They only came to the house in June and said the time has run out and we are not doing anything else. I haven’t heard anything from National Highways from then until now.”
The overall project – costing £460m – seeks to lessen traffic congestion along a single-carriageway bottleneck stretch.
The overall project – costing £460million – seeks to lessen traffic congestion along a single-carriageway bottleneck stretch
National Highways
Reflecting on how the roadworks will improve the area, Garlick explained: “When it is all done the roads will be far better. The actual tunnel will make it safer. Don’t know how the noise levels are going to be. They say they won’t do any extra glazing until one year and one day of the road being officially open.
“You have to live with it for a year and then if there is noise here we are going to have to wait one year.”
Programme manager for National Highways Steve Foxley said: “We had lengthy discussions with Mr Garlick ahead of construction regarding any disruption to him and agreed a way forward that worked for both parties.
“We will continue to do our best to address any concerns and to minimise any impacts to the community and residents from our work on the scheme.”
A spokesman for the National Highways added: “There was always going to be an underpass, and we are currently progressing the final design.”
