Brakes need to be put on building of garden village at airfield says councillor - The Stratford Observer

Brakes need to be put on building of garden village at airfield says councillor

Stratford Editorial 14th Sep, 2018   0

THE BRAKES need to be put on the building of a new garden village at Long Marston Airfield, says a district councillor.

Independent Welford councillor Peter Barnes says the transport infrastructure does not exist to support the 3,500 home development planned by developers Cala Homes, details of which were recently unveiled.

He controversially suggests building on nearby Wellesbourne Airfield which has recently been the subject of heated development debate, and which is currently the focus of a compulsory purchase order by Stratford District Council.

Coun Barnes told the Observer: “The traffic on our roads has already increased in volume and speed, some people are not even able to get out of their villages or homes.




“With a viable alternative at Wellesbourne Airfield, it is time to think again.

“6,000 homes are proposed in total in this rural location. Wellesbourne Airfield now offers a sustainable alternative location with better connectivity to the national motorway network and Warwick Parkway providing rail connectivity.


“While Stratford District Council has agreed to commission its own transport study, it has not started. We don’t need a report to tell us that all main roads into Stratford are full.”

Cala’s application shows plans for 3,500 homes to be built at Long Marston – 400 which have already been approved.

The garden village would be around the size of 240 football pitches, with some 75 of them used for green space, sports pitches and allotments.

The homes would be split across four neighbourhoods. The largest, Marston Mead, would contain the village centre with supermarket, pub, cafes, a primary and secondary school, shops and health centre.

But the developers say transport issues have been taken into account.

They say the site is well positioned with routes into the town for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

The site will be accessed by two gateways on Campden Road, and developers say they are also encouraging residents to use the village facilities.

And land next to the village has been safeguarded in case plans for a railway or tramway – which are currently being discussed – are given the green light.

A Cala spokesman said: “The site is strategically located between a main vehicular route and direct cycle and pedestrian route into Stratford. These routes provide sustainable links to the market town which provides rail connections to Warwick, Birmingham and London.

“The mix of uses offered on site provide the new community with education, employment, open spaces and local facilities. This promotes shorter journeys for trips to school, work and leisure activities within the wider context of the site.”

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