Stratford Strategic Partnership urges residents to share views on potential changes to key streets in town
A Stratford organisation of key town stakeholders is urging the public to share their views on plans to transform key Stratford streets and make them more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists.
The Stratford Strategic Partnership Group would like as many people as possible to contribute to the recently launched consultation on plans to alter Bridge Street, High Street, and Union Street.
The Partnership brings together councillors and officers across the three tiers of councils in Stratford, along with major Stratford organisations, both public and private, to work together on key projects in the town.
The initial plans have been based on the Stratford Neighbourhood Plan and around discussions made by the Partnership.
They include narrowing the road on the streets, widening the pavement and providing more crossings, making the space better for pedestrians, as well as using materials and a layout to create a more attractive area.
The roundabout between Bridge Street and High Street would be altered to provide a new pedestrian crossing going through the middle of it, linking it with Henley Street.
High Street would be closed to through traffic between 11am and 4pm, and a 20mph speed limit would be in place.
The plans also include a central walkway running along the centre of Bridge Street to make it easier for pedestrians to move through the street. It is proposed to keep Bridge Street open to two-way traffic and buses will continue to operate on the street.
The plans are now out for public consultation, led by Warwickshire County Council, until June 5. Anyone interested will be able to comment online or at several in-person events over the next few weeks and influence the final version of the plans.
And although the funding to make the plans into reality is not yet secured, a strong consultation will increase the chances that a new Levelling Up Fund bid to the government will be successful.
Geraldine Collinge, Director of Creative Placemaking and Public Programmes at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and chair of the Partnership, said: “Now that the consultation is live, we are asking as many people as possible to take a look at the plans and make their views known.
“While the consultation is being led by Warwickshire County Council, it was strongly influenced by useful discussions held by the Partnership which took into account everyone’s views.
“Now, it is the turn of the public to scrutinise those plans and have their say too. The future of Stratford-upon-Avon needs to be influenced by everyone, so we would encourage people to get involved and say what they think.
“We’re looking forward to hearing the public’s views and helping to shape the final version of the plans, which will be more likely to receive Levelling Up funding to make them a reality if plenty of people respond to the consultation.”
The public will be able to attend consultation events on:
- Friday, 1st April, 9am-4pm, The Friday Market, Rother Street
- Saturday, 2nd April, 10am-4pm, Stratford Town Hall
- Monday, 4th April, 1pm-7pm, Stratford Town Hall
- Wednesday, 6th April, 7pm-8pm, online public drop-in session via Microsoft Teams
Alternatively, the public can view the plans and share their views at https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/