Why are we waiting? - Anger as slow moving transport strategy faces more delays

INCREASING frustration over the “secrecy” surrounding traffic proposals for Stratford and the slow progress in developing a transport plan for the town was highlighted this week.

The cynicism was compounded by the disclosure that any firm ideas to resolve Stratford’s worsening traffic crisis won’t be published until after next May’s county council elections.

Critics suspect that the delay is purely political because Warwickshire County Council is heavily involved in the issue as the local highways authority and this topic is particularly contentious in Stratford.

The Herald learnt this week that many local councillors – even those who’re members of the ruling Conservative group on Stratford District Council – are in the dark about what is going on.

Details of the timetable for the next stages of a scenario initiated by Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi were outlined at Monday’s full meeting of Stratford District Council by Cllr Robert Vaudry (Cons, Bishopton), the council’s portfolio holder for housing and infrastructure.

During the course of a brief statement to councillors Cllr Vaudry revealed just one important piece of the transport jigsaw. He completely ruled out the idea of building a relief road from the so-called “armillary roundabout” on Banbury Road that would go the back of the town between Alveston and Tiddington, cross the River Avon, and come out at lower Warwick Road. “It won’t happen on my watch,” he declared.

This revelation is interesting because this particular road had been envisaged as part of a bypass around Stratford to accompany the relief roads planned through Luddington and Shottery.

After Monday’s council meeting Cllr Peter Moorse (Lib Dem, Hathaway, the main opposition leader on the council, told the Herald: “The Stratford Transport Plan seems to be yet another scheme being worked up behind closed doors.

“It’s well over two years since Mr Zahawi called his first traffic summit. We’re now on to the fourth summit and many residents are mystified as to why it’s taking so long to even get to the stage of putting forward proposals."

Full story in this week's Herald.