Shared space high on traffic summit agenda

The suggestion was among a wide range of options presented in a report to Stratford Town Council this week by transport consultant David Tucker, who is a member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) transport group.

Mr Tucker told the Herald that his paper on the Stratford district’s transport strategy had been seen and agreed by officials, and councillors at both Stratford District Council and Warwickshire County Council. The councils had also had an input into the document.

The paper will now be submitted to Peter Drew, the planning inspector looking at the district council’s core strategy, when the public examination of the strategy resumes later this year.

The only example of shared space in Stratford at the moment is in Waterside and Southern Lane, which occurred when the streets were given a makeover following the redevelopment of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Henley Street, however, is fully pedestrianised.

“Pedestrianisation all over the country is seen as a rather Draconian system nowadays,” said Mr Tucker.

“The old system, like in Henley Street, is rather brutal because it denies access to everyone apart from excepted vehicles. The whole logic is that traffic does not have priority over pedestrians in shared space. Everyone has to act reasonably so they can work together.”

In his report Mr Tucker identifies three areas where work is already under way or will begin shortly:

- Development of proposals for the A3400 Birmingham Road between the A46 Bishopton roundabout and the town centre

- Exploration of the costs and benefits of a third river crossing/bypass/relief road with associated link roads and improvements to the town centre, including the possible closure of Clopton Bridge to all but pedestrians, cyclists and public transport

- The establishment of a multi-agency group for the A46, recognising the local and strategic importance of this route and the need for major investment in the section between the M40 near Warwick and the M5 near Tewkesbury

Apart from the shared space idea, Mr Tucker said that further options to be explored included. They included:

- A review of car parking policy in Stratford town centre

- Development of new or enhanced local bus services as part of a wider review across south Warwickshire, in conjunction with local bus operators

- A review of rail links and services between Stratford town and the surrounding communities.

- Development of a lorry routing strategy, particularly between Long Marston and Atherstone-on-Stour, and the A46/M40 corridors

Mr Tucker added that he expected the fourth of Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi’s traffic summits to be held shortly.

What do you think of the ideas in Mr Tucker's report? Send us your views to news@stratford-herald.com