Don’t miss consultation date this Saturday
An extra date for consultation on the Stratford Bridge proposals is to take place this Saturday, October 21, at Bancroft Gardens from 11am until 4pm.
The additional date has been added as a result of feedback during the consultation so far and concerns that a consultation had not happened in the town on a Saturday.
Already more than three thousand people have attended exhibitions to view the proposals for a new pedestrian and cycle footbridge over the River Avon in Stratford.
Six exhibitions have been held in the past month at a variety of locations to ensure easy access for both residents and visitors. And the additional date will give a further chance to express opinions on the proposed five designs.
Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: “We are encouraged by the number of people who have already taken the time to make their comments known, and it is as a result of just some of the feedback we’ve had so far that we are adding an additional date, this time on a Saturday.
“Consultation is about being inclusive and we have gone to great lengths to ensure as wide a range of views as possible are taken into consideration.”
The proposal for a new pedestrian and cycle footbridge has been around for several years, stemming from the Transport Strategy and subsequent inclusion in Stratford District Council’s Waterfront Master Plan in 2003. At that time there was also extensive public consultation on the Master Plan. The regional development agency Advantage West Midlands were not approached until local support for the plans had been established.
The proposed bridge is designed to provide a number of clear benefits, including:
· a direct link for pedestrians and cyclists from the recreation ground and residential areas of Bridgetown, past the theatre and into town, improving access to schools and businesses.
· a safe cycling route which links into the national cycle network
· better facilities for the disabled and those with pushchairs
· dispersal of congestion around the Bancroft Gardens
· a landmark feature which would be an attraction in its own right
· providing an additional vantage point to view the Holy Trinity Church, remodelled Theatre and the river itself.
The consultation period runs until 27th October 2006.
A series of stakeholder meetings are also being held with various groups within the town.
In addition people can continue to view the proposals and fill in a questionnaire, either on line at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/stratfordbridge or at the following locations: Stratford, Wellesbourne and Shipston on Stour libraries, as well as at Stratford District Council offices and Stratford Leisure Centre.
At the end of October the results of the consultation will be fed to a jury panel, which will consider the public’s comments, alongside a technical appraisal of the five bridge designs. The panel’s recommendation will then be fed back to the county council’s Cabinet meeting on 24th November, when a decision will be made on whether to proceed with the bridge proposal.