Communities to the south, south west and indeed north west of Stratford upon Avon have experienced year on year increased road traffic volumes. Stratford itself also suffers from increasing traffic congestion at times making residents feel the town is under siege. Despite this and the need for greater support for local traders and businesses to enable more visitors to the town centre continues to be ignored by a small but vociferous minority of residents (and a handful of Councillors) that are opposed to the re-instatement but to date have failed to provide any credible reasons to support such opposition which is successful will prevent Stratford, it's residents and visitors the greater connectivity they expect and desire in the 21st century.
SWO supports maximum mitigation for local residents in Stratford upon Avon by placing the railway in a tunnel through the Evesham Place and Wetherby Way areas, it also supports full retention of The Greenway. However, the greater need to protect the amenity of the South Warwickshire area must come first and that means, in view of planned major housing expansion, adequate infrastructure to provide sustainable transport and connectivity.
Significant housing development is now proposed to the south west of Stratford upon Avon. The revised Core Strategy of the Local Planning Authority, Stratford on Avon District Council, (SDC) will see some 5,900 homes built in the Long Marston area in addition to other developments over a wide area south of Stratford and the River Avon. The effects arising from this level of development will be experienced by existing communities in the Stratford on Avon, Wychavon and Cotswold Districts, particularly those with through traffic routes to/from employment areas such as Birmingham, the West Midlands, Worcester, Oxford and Reading
Consequently, SWO believes it is critical to ensure such development is delivered sustainably, as well as to the benefit of existing residents, it is essential that the Local Planning Authority for Long Marston (SDC) and Warwickshire County Council (WCC) plan and deliver the required infrastructure to support such a scale of growth. We believe this places the utmost importance on re-establishing the rail link between Stratford upon Avon and Honeybourne (Long Marston*). As well as enabling truly sustainable development to take place at Long Marston Airfield and the Central Engineer Park the re-establishment of this rail link would also deliver a plethora of significant benefits to the wider existing community.
Re-instating the railway line from Stratford to Honeybourne including a new station at Long Marston would enable direct rail services north to Stratford and Birmingham as well as direct services west to Worcester and Oxford to the East using the recently increased capacity completed in 2012 on the Cotswold line.
SWO is a small group of campaigners who are trying to get the relevant local authorities on board to support and promote the re-opening of some 6 miles of railway line between Stratford upon Avon and Honeybourne (in effect Long Marston*) that closed in 1976. The large scale development proposed by the revised Core Strategy provides a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to secure at the very least part private funding for the construction of infrastructure that will mitigate the effects of a growth in the local population of around some 13,000.
The local authorities have the ability to require adequate infrastructure from developers and we believe that totally relying on roads as the only means of transport is not a sustainable approach in 2015 and beyond. It will certainly NOT protect villages and communities from yet more vehicular traffic. We believe SWO should form a critical part of the Local Planning Authority's infrastructure plan and by doing so help to protect the amenity of existing communities. If you agree please take time to write an email to your Parish Councillors, District Councillor, County Councillor and your Member of Parliament.
A few minutes now and a small action by each individual could make a big difference in ensuring the community you enjoy is protected for you, your family and future generations.
SWO supports maximum mitigation for local residents in Stratford upon Avon by placing the railway in a tunnel through the Evesham Place and Wetherby Way areas, it also supports full retention of The Greenway. However, the greater need to protect the amenity of the South Warwickshire area must come first and that means, in view of planned major housing expansion, adequate infrastructure to provide sustainable transport and connectivity.
Significant housing development is now proposed to the south west of Stratford upon Avon. The revised Core Strategy of the Local Planning Authority, Stratford on Avon District Council, (SDC) will see some 5,900 homes built in the Long Marston area in addition to other developments over a wide area south of Stratford and the River Avon. The effects arising from this level of development will be experienced by existing communities in the Stratford on Avon, Wychavon and Cotswold Districts, particularly those with through traffic routes to/from employment areas such as Birmingham, the West Midlands, Worcester, Oxford and Reading
Consequently, SWO believes it is critical to ensure such development is delivered sustainably, as well as to the benefit of existing residents, it is essential that the Local Planning Authority for Long Marston (SDC) and Warwickshire County Council (WCC) plan and deliver the required infrastructure to support such a scale of growth. We believe this places the utmost importance on re-establishing the rail link between Stratford upon Avon and Honeybourne (Long Marston*). As well as enabling truly sustainable development to take place at Long Marston Airfield and the Central Engineer Park the re-establishment of this rail link would also deliver a plethora of significant benefits to the wider existing community.
Re-instating the railway line from Stratford to Honeybourne including a new station at Long Marston would enable direct rail services north to Stratford and Birmingham as well as direct services west to Worcester and Oxford to the East using the recently increased capacity completed in 2012 on the Cotswold line.
SWO is a small group of campaigners who are trying to get the relevant local authorities on board to support and promote the re-opening of some 6 miles of railway line between Stratford upon Avon and Honeybourne (in effect Long Marston*) that closed in 1976. The large scale development proposed by the revised Core Strategy provides a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to secure at the very least part private funding for the construction of infrastructure that will mitigate the effects of a growth in the local population of around some 13,000.
The local authorities have the ability to require adequate infrastructure from developers and we believe that totally relying on roads as the only means of transport is not a sustainable approach in 2015 and beyond. It will certainly NOT protect villages and communities from yet more vehicular traffic. We believe SWO should form a critical part of the Local Planning Authority's infrastructure plan and by doing so help to protect the amenity of existing communities. If you agree please take time to write an email to your Parish Councillors, District Councillor, County Councillor and your Member of Parliament.
A few minutes now and a small action by each individual could make a big difference in ensuring the community you enjoy is protected for you, your family and future generations.
