BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 107818

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mr Andrew Martin

I believe that one of the key considerations amongst the proposed locations for residential development must be transportation options and infrastructure. Stratford-upon-Avon is becoming too well known for its traffic jams and gridlocks. The limited river crossings and the historic town centre roads frequently cause bottleneck and are difficult to alleviate. The new developments can only impose additional load on these bottlenecks. I see that some consideration has given to this issue, but I believe that the thinking is too weak and too optimistic. The proposed developments would be likely to significantly aggravate the problem. This would be to the severe detriment of both residents of and visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon, and threaten the town’s desirability and prosperity for both.
With regard to proposed site E1 in particular, this is all too reminiscent of the recent All Things Wild proposal. That proposal raised the same issue, viz excess traffic along the B4632, through villages to the south west and through (if not round) the town centre and Clifford Chambers to the north east – in both directions. Thus, it is not just a local issue. The development of up to 10,000 homes on a site 24 times as large as ATW, yet would be served principally by this limited capacity B road. It would be a recipe for more delay, frustration, inconvenience, unreliability of travel whether car or bus, and overall chaos. It would be a mistake to re-introduce this threat. 4000 extra cars at peak times would itself represent more than twice the peak capacity of a B road, and that on top of the existing load!
Encouraging cycling is good, and I do sometimes ride into town (risking life and limb on Clifford Lane or its pavement with HGVs less than 2 metres away), but cycling becomes unpleasant and even less safe in wet or dark times. Whilst the Greenway does appear to offer an opportunity, it would require further thought and investment to prevent it from being repurposed from a leisure route to a commuting highway. Increasing the frequency and reliability of buses is desirable but hopeful in its ambition, implementation and sustainability.
This area includes known flood risks, which would need serious attention and investment so as not to remotely threaten the misery of flooded homes.
The Long Marston airfield development was not meant to go beyond 400 houses until that Relief Road was in place.
Overall I believe that the impact of adopting site E1 will be unbearable on the B4632, its close villages and the town centre.