The blog and social media channels have been quiet recently as I spent most of my time on foot talking to people across all of our parishes.
Recently, I spent a couple of days in and around Luddington. The relief roads proposed around the west and south west of Stratford-upon-Avon were the number one discussion point. I was recently asked my views in an email from a concerned Luddington resident. I publish an extract of my response here so that you all know what I think on the subject.
The relief roads are a high priority subject for all parishes, but Luddington, Clifford and Dodwell have a particular interest. My understanding is that there are 2 parts to the relief scheme.
- The Western Relief Road, for which planning was refused, but over-turned on appeal, runs from a proposed roundabout at the bottom of Bordon Hill on the Evesham Road to the existing Wildmoor roundabout on the A46. This road will offer a route for most in our area to more easily access the A46, without the need to take the rat-runs through Shottery or Binton. That’s the upside. However, I am aware of some limitations and downsides. The road is the primary access road for developments proposed to the west of Shottery. As a result, there are 2 additional roundabouts en route and, I believe, speed restrictions that limit its utility.
Residents of Luddington and Dodwell fear that traffic will back-up the Bordon Hill and along the Evesham Road, particularly during busy times in the morning, caused by through-traffic routing out along the Evesham Road and turning right. It will have right of way and cause significant congestion along the Evesham Road. This will directly inconvenience the residents of Dodwell, as it does now on occasion already. For Luddington, it is highly likely that motorists seeking to avoid the congestion will use Luddington as a rat-run.
I share this view and foresee that this situation will only deteriorate as the development at Long Marston airfield progresses and attracts more commuters to the area. - The future of the South Western Relief Road is less certain. Currently, plans are for the road to start on the Shipston Road, running north east of Clifford Chambers village, over an elevated section across the river flood plain and crossing river and railway with bridges. Finally it routes along the western edge of the racecourse before joining the Bordon Hill roundabout to be constructed as part of the scheme above.
Notwithstanding the slightly faster journey times for those living in Meon Vale and on the proposed Long Marston Airfield development, I share the view of most of those I have spoken to, that this scheme offers little benefit to those in our area. In short it was poorly conceived and will be a waste of money if pursued. Although I am of the view that a solution will be necessary to handle the monumental increase in traffic that will ensue when the Long Marston airfield development is complete, I am not convinced that this lies in pumping additional traffic into an already overloaded traffic scheme.
I will be voting against this scheme and will encourage council to pursue sustainable alternatives.
Given the anticipated increase in traffic volume across our area, logic dictates that I must support measures to reduce traffic volume and speed through all of our villages. I would like to see reductions in speed limits and I will support Parish Councils in whichever traffic calming measures they prefer. I anticipate objection from Highways on the grounds that there is no lighting, but a challenge to this stance is long overdue.