A BLOW TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY.!!

Following the decision by Coun.Saint to 'call in' the decision made by WCC Stratford Local Planning Committee, at the WCC meeting on 15th October the only person to vote against the proposals to go ahead with the original scheme was Coun.Izzy Seccombe.  The other 9, none of which are from Stratford, in essence over-ruled our local Planning Committee.  There seems little point in having a local Planning Committee if their decisions can just be over-ruled in this fashion.

 The only crumb of comfort is that a Stratford Voice suggested amendment that there will not be a contra-flow cycle lane on Southern Lane and that the existing parking arrangements will be retained was agreed. However the One way realigned cycle way, disabled parking, single coach bay were all agreed. However instead of the ubiquitous Chinese Granite the material agreed was York stone and blue brick sets, but there will still be some areas of Granite around the Theatre.

 

Stratford Voice are still of the opinion that making part of Waterside one way, thus making Sheep Street traffic exiting onto Waterside having to turn right and back up a reversed one-way flow Chapel street will just bring this traffic back into town.-a recipe for chaos.

 

Also traffic from Clopton Bridge will have to go up Bridge Street (No Entry to Waterside), along High Street and down Sheep Street to access the theatre - more traffic in an already traffic overloaded town !!

 

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From: wayne vickers
Submitted on: Tue, 15-Sep-09 6:16 pm
I would be interested to discuss with you your proposals for the cycle lane connecting with the Greenway. I am a member of the local cycle Forum and a volunteer ranger for Sustrans as well as running a cycling business in town and a local cyclist with young children, so feel my experience of the needs of children, families, tourists with little cycling confidence/experience is fairly relevant to advising on these issues. I spoke at the area committe in support of the cycle lane. The WCC consulted fairly extensively with the cycle forum on several occasions and the schem down Southern lane we felt was a strategically important part of implementing a strategicroughfare in Stratford. I am dissapointed Stratford Voice and the councillors involved believe parking should take priority over cycling! As you are no doubt aware the Greenway is part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network bringing a large number of cyclists and walkers to Stratford. The big problem with the current cycling facilities in Stratford is that residents in Old Town/ Old Town Mews/ Wetherby Way, Evesham road and to a certain extent Shottery have no easy means of cycling into town. Sustrans route 41 currently has to dodge its way down Church Street then chapel lane which is entirely unsuitable for youg children, families and unconfident cyclists due to the number of cars double parked down the street. Implementing the contraflow on Southern Lane allows for a relatively traffic free route down Seven Meadows Road/Mill Lane then Southern Lane to access town. I was and still in favour of a upgraded bridge at Lucy Mill but the realism side is that this will be years if ever implemented. Who did you consult locally to decide the cycle lane was not required, or on the new proposals you are developing. Neither the cycle Forum or Shakespokes or Sustrans have been consulted by you. I have actually spoken with many people, both local residents and tourists alike about the cyling proposal and absolutely everyone has been in support of it and were in favour of it. I can be contacted on 07711 776340 or wvickers2@btinternet.com and would suggest a meeting with the cycle forum representatives asap.