What we said at todays Examination in Public

Transcript of evidence given by Fraser Pithie on behalf of Stratford Transport Action Group at this afternoon's EIP at Stratford on Avon District Council Offices (19.01.16)

The provision of a through railway line between Stratford upon Avon and Honeybourne with a new station at Long Marston would deliver significant mitigation of a potential additional volume of traffic, estimated to be some 7,300 vehicles; that otherwise will disgorge onto rural roads to access. 

I would very briefly seek the indulgence of those present when I outline the level of expectation of the local communities affected by new development in this area generally, and Long Marston specifically.  In doing so I wish to use an analogy that I believe will be useful for the understanding of the railway reinstatement in the context of the proposed developments at Long Marston and recognise the relevance extends to development and growth Stratford upon Avon itself.

Many organisations have found out to their cost that by merely introducing a process that answers customer complaints quicker does not deliver a tangible and sustainable resolution for customers nor improvement for the organisations. The reason identified for this is that by just dealing with complaints promptly does little and often nothing to reduce the growing level of complaints. The more successful organisation are those that have introduced processes that not only deal with complaints promptly but also processes that tackle the root causes of complaints, crucially reducing the number of complaints.

The provision of a relief road we liken to handling complaints more promptly than at present. However, it does not provide a solution to the cause, which in the case of what we are considering here, is the volume and thus mitigation of vehicular traffic. 

This is why we wish to see an overall transport approach being taken through the provision of infrastructure that includes both road and rail and not roads exclusively. We also believe reinstatement of the railway is not just desirable for Stratford upon Avon but essential.

• Despite what has been said earlier about consented development already taken place an increase in vehicular traffic at Long Marston of 15% has been recorded in the last year compared to the previous year. 
• Last month the ORR (Rail Regulator) confirmed that passenger usage at Honeybourne, some 3 miles from Long Marston, has increased by 9.3% which is over twice the national average for 2014/15. 
• Conversely, overall rail passenger growth at Stratford upon Avon was lower than the national average of 4.5%. At just over 3% the lower level of growth at Stratford lays weight to the view that the current terminus status of the town's rail service severely limits the contribution rail can make in providing sustainable alternative public transport.

A through rail service, afforded by the reinstatement of the railway supported and complimented by frequent bus services to/from railheads at Long Marston, Stratford upon Avon & Stratford upon Avon Parkway would provide south, central and northern transport hubs for the town. This would deliver three key elements for the amenity of the area: 

• Positively impact on and reducing traffic congestion across the district, 
• Provide significantly enhanced connectivity for residents and visitors
• Enable more frequent rail services to/from Stratford delivering a modal shift of over 0.5 million visitors. This modal shift would raise to 25% the share of the 4 million annual visitors to the town that used the railway.

It is for these reasons that we can confirm that the Town/Parish Councils representing the following communities wish to see the reinstatement of the Stratford upon Avon and Honeybourne railway line.


Evesham Town Council, 
Chipping Campden Town Council, 
Mickleton Parish Council (PC), 
Welford on Avon PC
Pebworth PC
Bidford on Avon, PC 
Aston Cantlow PC 
Honeybourne PC

Also, we have determined that the County Council's of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire have also stated they wish to see the railway line reinstated in the light of the proposed developments.