I am pleased that Warwickshire County Council and Stratford District Council have now prepared a draft transport strategy as a consequence of the series of traffic summits I initiated due to high numbers of complaints from constituents regarding congestion in and around Stratford-upon-Avon.

I look forward to discussing the draft strategy further with County and District Councillors, to the fourth traffic summit on 9th February, and to seeing real action being delivered on traffic in our town instead of the piecemeal solutions we have become accustomed to.

Press Statement from October 2016

“In 2014 I initiated a series of traffic summits due to high numbers of complaints from constituents regarding congestion in and around Stratford-upon-Avon. The first summit, on 4th July 2014, gathered views and suggestions from residents about priorities for relieving congestion. The second summit, on 3rd October 2014, allowed experts from WCC to work up and present five options to residents, after which they were able to vote on what should be their areas of priority in tackling congestion.

“The residents voted for the first area of priority to be the Birmingham Road, the second a relief road and a second river crossing.

“The third summit was convened on 5th March 2015 to detail various options for relieving congestion on the Birmingham Road. This led to a public consultation for six weeks beginning on January 22nd of this year. The results of this consultation clearly demonstrated which options are preferred and highlighted any concerns. I am pleased that WCC now intends to address these areas of concern and return to the public in the near future with a revised and improved set of proposals.

“I anticipate that there will be a further public consultation on the topic of a relief road and river crossing in due course.

“One of the most positive outcomes of this series of summits is that SDC and WCC have been working on a cooperative transport strategy for the town, a strategy that will form the backbone of the fourth summit early in the new year. For far too long we have had piecemeal solutions to congestion on the Birmingham Road, with more traffic lights being the result of every new housing development.

“Unlike the Liberal Democrats, who snipe from the side lines, the Conservative district and county Councillors and their Officers are committed to delivering real action on traffic in our town. I back them wholeheartedly.”