Stratford roadworks cause anger, frustration and delays… with five months still to go
THE first week of major roadworks in Stratford has sparked a furious reaction from motorists who have faced tailbacks and congestion throughout the town centre.
Matters were made worse when a series of HGVs took to residential road and got stuck, with one hitting parked vehicles.
By day three the tailbacks created by the Warwick Road safety improvements had forced the town centre into a state of gridlock with a major knock-on effect to surrounding routes like Alcester Road as far back as Red Hill and reports of Clifford Chambers being clogged up.
Colin Stewart, chair of Stratford Town Transport Group questioned if the project had been thought through.
“I asked this of the county council two weeks before the work was due to start and I’m still waiting for a reply,” he said. “The congestion will vary from day-to-day but it’s on a knife edge and anything could tip it over. People will be looking for rat-runs all over the place.
“People might not be going into town to avoid the traffic but they will have to one day and that could cause more congestion.
“We still believe that if the new Shottery link road had been extended by 25 to 30 metres to the A46 that would have offered a diversionary route. There has to be suitable diversions in place in order to distribute traffic but vehicles are being directed only to Birmingham Road which is already busy.
“Is it necessary to close a road completely for so long?”
That same question was being asked around Stratford, as people’s everyday routines were hampered by congestion.
“It’s a disgrace, I’m a avoiding town as much as possible,” Teresa Waterworth posted on Facebook, where Michelle Lewis pointed out: “It’s taken me an hour and 10 mins just to get my boy to school again. It’s getting ridiculous.”
Deb Robinson added: “It seems lately just about all roads in and out of Stratford are gridlocked. The stress and anxiety heaped on ordinary working people on top of everything else – fuel prices and general cost-of-living profiteering – is creating desperate people, unhappy families and added mental health issues. We need help not hindrance.”
The Herald spoke with motorists at the Maybird Shopping Park, Stratford, on Tuesday afternoon during rush-hour, to get their take on traffic delays on day two of the roadworks.
“It’s like Piccadilly Circus. It’s absolutely bonkers,” said Rebecca Brewster of Shipston. “One of my pet hates is being stuck in traffic, it’s a waste of my life. I do get irate with the volume of traffic on Shipston Road and around town.”
Sarah Lally, from Warwick, is a regular at the Maybird because she loves the variety of shops. On Tuesday she and her two children were shopping for shoes.
“The traffic has not been too bad getting here, it was quite clear but we’ve still got to get home. I love it here. I love the Maybird because there’s so much choice and there’s so many different shops, but I wouldn’t come here on a Saturday because of the traffic. Stratford does need further options because everything is clogging up.”
Bidford resident Kathryn Williams added: “I use Google Maps to check out my route and I’ve noticed the traffic does chop and change quite a bit. On Mondays when you’d expect it to be really busy after the weekend it’s not too bad but Tuesdays are always much busier. It would be interesting to know if more people are working from home at the moment to avoid the congestion?”
County councillor Tim Sinclair (Con, Stratford North) said he is very aware of the ongoing traffic nightmare and is regularly talking with highways officers to help ease the daily headache.
“I am hoping the situation will calm down,” Cllr Sinclair said. “On the first day I drove on Warwick Road and it seemed OK, but Birmingham Road was busier than usual.”
He continued: “I have weekly project meetings with traffic officers about Birmingham Road and every other week meetings about Warwick Road.
“We always have to be concerned about access for emergency service vehicles but this could be a problem during any busy time or in rush-hour. On the Birmingham Road an emergency service vehicle would still be able to gain access through the traffic though.”
Birmingham Road was also scheduled for improvement works, but these have been delayed.
Cllr Sinclair said: “I’ve now had confirmation that in light of the major roadworks taking place on Warwick Road, the county council has determined that it will not be possible to also stage works on the Birmingham Road at this time.
“As a consequence, the current anticipated start date for Phase 2 of the Birmingham Road is September, after the summer period.
“I’m pushing for the Phase 3 section (The Avenue to the Clopton Road/Arden Street junction) to be completed as soon as possible after Phase 2.”
