BASE HEADER

Other

ID sylw: 107296

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford Rail Transport Group

We support route protection of the Stratford-Honeybourne-Oxford/Worcester railway line in accordance with the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy and NPPF para 111(c).

This is consistent with the South Worcestershire Development Plan; the Cotswold Local Plan; the Tewkesbury Local Plan; the Cheltenham Local Plan; the Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan; the Gloucestershire Rail Investment Strategy; Worcestershire LTP4; Worcestershire Rail Investment Strategy; the Oxfordshire Rail Strategy and the North Cotswold Line SOBC.

The Policy wording is too weak through use of the word "inhibit" - the existing Core Strategy wording should be used to make the Policy “Justified” and “Effective” in the context of NPPF 2024.

The Core Strategy Inspector’s Report stated reinstatement of the southbound rail link would:-

“provide a long-term solution to the town’s traffic congestion.” (248-257).

“There can be no question that the service would provide a sustainable alternative to the use of the private car for many residents and Visitors.”

The SWLP must be proactive and actively support reinstatement or it will go against the Inspector's recommendations.

Road transport causes 80% of Nitrogen Dioxide emissions and 72% of greenhouse gas emissions. Rail causes just 1.6% and less than 1% respectively. Transport emissions account for 28,000-35,000 premature deaths pa in the UK. The council has declared a climate change emergency. Planning and transport policies need to change accordingly to prioritise alternatives to road construction and car use.

There is no public transport between the Oxford, Stratford and Cheltenham "golden triangle". There is a lack of rail connectivity south of Stratford.

Draft Warwickshire LTP4 highlights the magnitude of cross-border movement for community, business and other activities, and the importance of the North Cotswold line for South Warwickshire residents accessing rail services to Oxford, Thames Valley, and London. Restoring the southbound rail link from Stratford-upon-Avon to this line must be a key priority for the SWLP to reduce car mileage from residents accessing the North Cotswold line. New roads are not a viable option - the Government SACTRA Report in 1994 concluded these induce new traffic and congestion benefits are often quickly eroded.

There is latent demand due to Stratford's position at the end of a truncated branch line with slow, infrequent services. Reinstatement would prevent Long Marston Garden Village from becoming car-dependent. It would help regenerate the Stratford Town Centre economy. It would provide a second route between Birmingham and Oxford via Stratford for network resilience. It would build on opportunities offered by Worcestershire Parkway as an interchange for journeys from Stratford to the South-West/South Wales.

The recent 2024 SOBC-Refresh should be included in the IDP to allow developer contributions to be sought towards the rail link in the emerging Worcester-Parkway-Evesham-LMAGV-Stratford-Hatton-Warwick-Leamington development arc, as detailed in the SOBC Final report.