RESIDENTS will get their chance to have a say on the design of the controversial multi-million South Western Relief Road next month.
Plans for the £30million road, including a bridge spanning the Avon, will be presented by developers Cala Homes, which would fund the proposed road as part of its creation of the 3,500 home garden village at Long Marston airfield.
Representatives from Cala Homes, its technical consultants and Stratford District Council will be on hand to answer questions at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Bridge Foot on February 8, from 4pm to 8pm, and February 10. from 9am to 1pm,
The plans state the road – which has been included in the district council’s core strategy planning document – would run between the Shipston Road near Orchard Hill Farm and Luddington Road near the racecourse in a bid to relieve congestion.
District and county council chiefs say the road will help ease congestion in the town, including diverting HGVs away from the historic Clopton Bridge.
But proposals have been met with fierce opposition from residents.
Campaign group Stratford Residents Action Group say there was no evidence the road would ease congestion, and it would have major environmental consequences.
Group committee member John Warrender said: ” The destruction of local amenities and the environment will be huge and permanent during and after construction.
“It would be a huge blot on Stratford’s landscape, seen for miles around.
“It is proposed to cut through Stratford’s major floodplain and then link with a new roundabout at the base of the steep Bordon’s Hill which is likely to become an accident blackspot, and also delay commuters on a daily basis coming into town.”
CALA Homes is preparing a detailed application for the road, which it plans to submit to the district council in May.
Cala Homes spokesperson Michael Emett said: “We appreciate that there is a lot of local interest in the South Western Relief Road and are pleased to be able to provide residents with an opportunity to view the proposed plans and discuss these with representatives from CALA Homes.”
