CAMPAIGNERS against the controversial Stratford’s South Western Relief Road turned out in force when developers outlined designs to residents.
Visitors to the Cala Homes presentation, held at the town’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, were greeted by protesters from Stratford’s Resident Action Group (SRAG).
While the developers unveiled two options for a bridge spanning the Avon – as part of the £30million road plan linking the garden village at Long Marston airfield to near the racecourse – the campaigners outlined their own alternative design following advice from highway experts,
Among the campaigners was motoring journalist and Stratford resident Quentin Wilson who said it was the most serious issue the town had ever faced and accused the council of not knowing what it was doing.
He added: “My view is it’s the biggest threat to this town’s wellbeing that is already buckling under congestion, air quality issues and bad driving.
“People will not come here, this town is compromised by this. We do not need another 7,500 cars and 3,500 houses.
“It cant be allowed to happen. This concerns the future wellbeing of this town, one of the country’s heritage and tourist jewels worth fighting for.”
He called on residents to unite in opposition to the planned road.
SRAG – which is raising £25,000 towards legal challenge costs – believed there were many options which had not been considered by Stratford District Council.
SRAG spokeswoman Marion Homer said: “We’re not pretending traffic in the town is not a nightmare. But it needs to be the right decision. At the moment the plans are to place the road in an important corner of Stratford and being given a choice of one or the other is not good enough.”
But Mike Emmet from Cala said he was aware nearby residents would be directly impacted by the road.
He added: “The planning application will assess the impact and we will have to come up with mitigation measures that ensures the road has a satisfactory impact.”
The proposed road would run between the Shipston Road near Orchard Hill Farm and Luddington Road near the racecourse.
The planning application is expected to be submitted in May, followed by a public consultation.
