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Delays to Clopton Bridge work but no rethink of plans for Stratford junction




WHEN it comes to traffic lights on Clopton Bridge the county council is not for turning – just like the extra queues that those opposed to the scheme see as an inevitable result of the work.

Earlier this year the county suggested work would start on the controversial scheme in late February and last six months. With no sign of action as we reach late March, there was just the hope that Warwickshire had listened to experts, residents and councillors in Stratford and was having a rethink.

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It is a scheme designed to allow more housebuilding south of the river – but designed in a world before the pandemic and the change to working and commuting habits.

In response to a string of questions from the Herald, the county council confirmed the scheme is delayed – but will definitely go ahead using a contractor appointed by Taylor Wimpey and supervised by them, with the county council monitoring the work.

One of many voices raised in dismay at the intended work is Stratford Society president Dr Kevin Bond. He reiterated this week the concern that the data used in devising the scheme is out of date – and will foul up the rest of the town.

He said: “Putting traffic controls on Clopton Bridge will create problems where there aren’t any and are unlikely to ameliorate problems on Tiddington Road, Banbury Road and Shipston Road.

“It seems to be a plan to lock up traffic all over the town. We’ve said to the county council the ‘do nothing’ option is probably the least worst option.”

And he argued that the developers would be ready to discuss other ways of spending the money, a case also put forward by the Stratford Town Transport Group when the Herald reported on the issue earlier this year.

At that time, Colin Stewart, chair of the group, also highlighted a number of issues with the proposals, including the way large vehicles and buses get onto the bridge from the south. With traffic lights in place this is likely to make the current give-and-take situation disappear, adding to the likelihood of greater queues.

Clopton Bridge from south of the River Avon. Photo: Mark Williamson C5/2/22/4474. (55716994)
Clopton Bridge from south of the River Avon. Photo: Mark Williamson C5/2/22/4474. (55716994)

But the county council has made it clear the scheme will go ahead and that the idea of doing something else with the money the developer has to contribute is not a realistic option.

In its response to the Herald’s questions, a county council spokesman explained why nothing had happened yet: “The developer has had difficulties in receiving tender prices from contractors and has not been able to appoint a contractor as yet. We are awaiting a new proposed start date.”

They added that there had been a number of tweaks to road markings and signage but new modelling they had carried out did not change the overall picture: “It indicates that the scheme provides a workable solution to issues relating to future increases in traffic volume.”

And they were resolute that the original decision to approve the plan was the right one: “The need for a scheme at Clopton Bridge to manage increasing traffic flows has been established. A highway scheme was designed by a developer to respond to this issue and make the development acceptable from a transport perspective. A planning inspector reached a view following a public inquiry that the scheme was necessary and would not create unacceptable impacts. Nothing has fundamentally changed since the application was approved and more recent assessments support both the need for the scheme and previous conclusions that it will effectively manage the forecast increase in traffic flows.

“Given the constraints at the site the council is confident that this solution offers the best option for dealing with the anticipated long-term traffic growth which is why we have agreed to allowing the developer to construct the scheme and meet their required planning condition.”

And it is the issue of planning permission which the county looks to as reason to not dismiss the plan in favour of other options – a pedestrian and cycle crossing east of the existing bridge was a positive suggestion by those who want to see the traffic lights plan dropped.

But the county is certain: “Alternative proposals for spending the developer’s money have been suggested by the town transport group and others, but there are questions over both the deliverability and benefits that these suggestions could provide. The scheme is a planning condition and any change to this would require an application to vary the condition to be made to the planning authority, Stratford District Council. It is difficult to see how an application to overturn the decision of a planning inspector could be granted without there being a substantive change to the case against the scheme and/or an alternative evidenced proposal for delivering the required transport mitigation.

“Whilst the current scheme has a value of approximately £2million it does not follow that this funding would be made available for alternative options.”

Also dismissed is the suggestion of running a trial before unleashing the real thing – the council says it would not be possible to run all elements of the proposed scheme as a trial.

So at some point in the future, there will be traffic lights on Clopton Bridge.

The council added: “We will continue to monitor the scheme post construction and look to make improvements as required over the long term.”

The work

  • The planned scheme will see traffic lights installed at the junction of Clopton Bridge, Swans Nest Lane, Tiddington Road and Banbury Road.
  • A traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing will be placed at the entrance to Tiddington Road, while an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point will be positioned on Banbury Road, at the entrance of the Alveston Manor Hotel.
  • The large triangular traffic island that currently sits in the middle of the junction would be removed.
  • Vehicles coming out of Tiddington Road will be able to turn right across Clopton Bridge, as opposed to turning left and coming back on themselves via the roundabout on Banbury Road.
  • The scheme will also see the pavement on the corner between Clopton Bridge and Tiddington Road widened along with the path on the other side of the road between Clopton Bridge and Swans Nest Lane.


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