| Consultations into the Proposed Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge and Traffic Management changes to Waterside and Southern Lane, Stratford-upon- Avon. |
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| November and December 2007 | |
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At a time when the Royal Shakespeare Company is undertaking a transformation of its theatres, and when visitor numbers have dropped by 30% in the last decade, The County and District Councils have come under pressure to ensure that Stratford-upon-Avon maintains its reputation as a key destination for visitors and an important gateway for the rest of the region. World Class Stratford is an initiative embracing the public and private sectors seeking to attract investment to improve the pubic realm, to widen the visitor offer and to ensure that the town has an economic future that it can be confident in.
Many schemes have been proposed in the Urban Design Framework, an umbrella design document covering the whole town, and significant monies will be bid for. A phase 1 bid to Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency was successful and a programme of works comprising a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, works to Waterside and Southern Lane, a re-design of the Bancroft Gardens, improvements to the recreation Ground and a way marking scheme are underway.
An architectural practice to design the bridge was selected through a competition run under the guidance of the Royal Institute of British Architects. More than 60 applications were received following a European-wide advertisement. A shortlist of five architects and engineers was drawn up and each was invited to submit drawings. These designs were subject to lengthy public consultation in the summer of 2006. The winner of the design competition was Ritchie Architects who, following a County Council resolution in December 2006, were instructed to draw up detailed plans whilst paying particular regard to the concerns raised during the consultation process. |
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The key issues raised during the 2006 consultations were:
- The need had not been established
- Consideration and mitigation of key concerns raised, including visual impact, the detailed implications of the bridge landings, ramps, impact on the recreation ground , lighting etc.
- Clarity on how the bridge fits into proposals for Waterside and Southern Lane and the wider cycle/ pedestrian network
- Consideration of upgrading of Lucy’s Mill bridge
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In late 2007, Warwickshire County Council was in a position to hold a series of second-stage consultation meetings to an audience of invited stakeholders. Each was chaired independently by either Prof. Ronnie Mulryne or Prof Ian Heggie. The speakers were Robin Cross from Ian Ritchie Architects, designer of the bridge, and Shona Williams from Land Use Consultants, a landscape architect assisting with the design of Waterside and Southern Lane. A panel of officers from Warwickshire County Council were also present, and answered any questions of detail or policy. Officers present at some or all of the events were:
John Deegan, Strategic Director for Environment and Economy
Mandy Walker, Regeneration Projects Group Manager
Julie Crawshaw, Programme Manager for World Cass Stratford
Sue Ashley, Regeneration Projects
Chris Nason, Bridge Engineer
Mushtak Ahmed, Bridge Engineer
Roger Bennett, Traffic Engineer
Milan Tursner, Cycle officer
Audrey Brown, Regeneration Projects – event organiser
Stacy Smith, Regeneration Projects – event organiser
The concerns raised in 2006 were discussed at length and many fears were allayed, but new concerns were raised. Specific issues were raised at each meeting and key themes developed, specifically:
- Concern over the shared surface of the bridge and potential conflict between cyclists and pedestrians
- Coach access along Waterside and Southern Lane
- The impact the traffic proposals would have on the road network elsewhere in the town
- The position of the bridge.
To view the synopsis of each meeting please click here |
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