All councillors to debate Stratford bridge proposal
Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet yesterday agreed that all county councillors should make the decision on the new bridge proposal for Stratford upon Avon.
Cabinet felt all 62 county councillors should debate the proposal at the meeting of the ‘full county council’ on December 12 and specifically on whether to approve scheme B for further development, detailed design and more consultation. This proposal was supported by the leaders of all the three political groups.
Cabinet felt that not only did the issue of the bridge warrant a ‘full council’ discussion, but importantly the county council wished to have a formal response from Stratford District Council, as key partner, before making a final decision. The district council, which owns the land on one side of the River Avon, will meet on December 8 to consider the bridge.
Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Economic Development Portfolio Holder, said: “This is not a decision to be taken lightly. When I met last week with World Class Stratford partners we were all anxious to take a considered view of the outcome of the consultation on the bridge.
“We are potentially making a decision here which could influence the ability to attract future investment into Stratford, we need to get it right.”
The county council’s Stratford Area Committee, which met on Wednesday had recommended to Cabinet that no further action be taken to work up a detailed design. Cabinet however clearly wanted to ensure that all members considered the consultation report and views of our project partners.
The outcome of Warwickshire County Council’s two months of public consultation and comments from more than 2,500 people revealed that 44% of respondents show very positive support for a new bridge, with the majority of people preferring design B. 56% are not content with the proposal.
The judging panel met on November 9 to consider a technical appraisal of the designs and the outcome of the public consultation, before also recommending that bridge design B should be considered further, by the county council. Design B was submitted by Ian Ritchie Architects/Schlaich Bergerman & Partner.
One of the considerations that swung the panel was the prospect of the bridge being the ‘thinnest arch bridge in the world’. The panel also liked the fact that the design was very sensitive to the setting, being ‘modest simple and elegant’, something that many members of the public had also commented on.
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 proposed bridge is designed to provide a number of 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 disabled people 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.