2006-2011 Main LTP

Warwickshire in 2005 and Planned Improvements to 2011

Problems and Opportunities

A discussion of local characteristics and the key problems and opportunities in each of the seven areas within Warwickshire is set out below, along with an indication of what planned improvements will have been made in each area by 2011.

The North/South Corridor

The North/South Corridor links the generally less prosperous northern areas of the County with the more prosperous south via Coventry. The problems and opportunities within these areas, predominantly Nuneaton/Bedworth in the north and Warwick/Leamington Spa/Kenilworth/Whitnash in the south, are discussed in the appropriate sections below. At a strategic level, the key transport issue in the corridor is the lack of high quality public transport that does not require interchange within Coventry city centre.

The County Council intends to submit a Major Scheme bid in 2006/07 (possibly in conjunction with Coventry City Council and Centro) to provide a step-change in public transport provision within the corridor. This issue remains a key priority for the County Council during the second LTP period.

Northern Warwickshire

Northern Warwickshire is predominantly an ex-coal mining area, which is characterised by a large rural area with four small towns and a number of other small settlements and villages. Atherstone has a number of historical links to the manufacturing sector, and is currently home to the company 3M. The proximity of the area to Birmingham, Birmingham International Airport (BIA), the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton and Coventry mean that its employment needs are substantially met outside its boundary. Significant employment provision however has been made in recent years at Hams Hall (near Coleshill) and in the A5 corridor at Birch Coppice. Both sites are predominantly used for warehousing and distribution, and are rail served.

There is no major housing development proposed in the Borough for the foreseeable future, and any further development should ideally be focused on making the most of the links to the West Midlands conurbation and the East Midlands that will be afforded following the opening of Coleshill Parkway station on the Birmingham - Leicester line. This will present an opportunity to achieve significantly improved accessibility in the rural areas of North Warwickshire. Investment is planned in a new network of fully accessible bus services to serve North Warwickshire using Coleshill Parkway as a bus hub. The aim of these service improvements will be to ensure that the majority of villages and towns to the south of the A5 will have a bus link to the interchange at Coleshill or Birmingham International Station and thence to the national rail network. It is the intention to provide the following four bus services:

Nuneaton to BIA/NEC via Arley, Hams Hall and Coleshill;
Atherstone to BIA/NEC via Baddesley, Kingsbury, Hams Hall and Coleshill;
Tamworth to BIA/NEC via Kingsbury, Hams Hall and Coleshill; and
Sutton Coldfield to Coleshill Parkway via Water Orton and Hams Hall.

Low floor, easy access, buses will operate the majority of these services. Passenger information and bus stops at key locations will be improved. Proposals for a new dedicated coach link between Coleshill Parkway and BIA will also be developed to run in parallel with the conventional bus services. The aim of this link will be to make public transport a valid alternative for long distance access to BIA, particularly from the East Midlands.

Over the next five years, two major routes will become the focus for the development of Quality Bus Corridors: Nuneaton to Atherstone via Hartshill; and the strategic link between Tamworth, Kingsbury, Hams Hall, Coleshill, BIA/NEC and Stratford-upon-Avon. The improvements will include new bus shelters where appropriate, raised kerbs for easy boarding and a brand image for each route.

Northern Warwickshire contains the market towns of Coleshill, Atherstone and Polesworth. A number of improvements have been identified that will benefit the transport system in these towns and contribute towards their regeneration and attractiveness. These include junction improvements and traffic management measures, enhanced public transport facilities and information, better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, and local landscaping and environmental enhancements.

Nuneaton and Bedworth

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough forms the northern end of the North/South Corridor and is an area characterised by past and present mining activity, as well as heavy engineering and manufacturing. There are a number of substantial ex-mining sites that are available for redevelopment, the key ones being Midland Quarry, Bermuda and Judkins. The established regeneration corridor from Coventry to Nuneaton requires a step-change in public transport provision in order to develop access to employment opportunities at Bermuda, in Coventry, and in the more prosperous mid-Warwickshire area. Improvements in this area will also enhance accessibility to George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton. A Major Scheme bid for improvements in this corridor is planned for submission in 2006/07 but if unsuccessful, some limited improvements will be implemented using integrated transport funding.

The Nuneaton and Bedworth area has generally good links with Coventry, Birmingham, Hinckley and Leicester. Whilst the two towns generally provide for their immediate population in terms of shops, services, health and other facilities, their proximity to major retail developments in Leicester, Solihull, Coventry and the recently opened retail and leisure park at the Arena near Foleshill may affect their economic stability. In response to these challenges, the County Council and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council have been actively involved in a master planning exercise that will guide the future development of the two town centres over the next 5 to10 years.

Improvements identified in the master plan will complement the new Ropewalk retail development in Nuneaton town centre that has come forward as part of the Nuneaton Development Project. A number of transport improvements are needed, primarily aimed at improving access to the town centre. These include improvements to the bus station, improved pedestrian linkage between the railway station, the bus station and town centre, and improved road signage including Variable Message Signs.

The master plan for Bedworth town centre is aimed at maintaining the vitality of the town centre. The principal transport measure proposed is to make Mill Street a pedestrian priority area with bus-only access. This will require traffic management measures elsewhere to accommodate displaced traffic from the town centre.

It is proposed to upgrade the following bus routes in the area to Quality Bus Corridors in the next five years:

Grove Farm – Stockingford – Nuneaton;
Atherstone – Hartshill – Nuneaton;
Long Shoot – Nuneaton;
Nuneaton – Attleborough – Red Deeps – George Eliot Hospital; and
Bedworth – Bulkington – Nuneaton.

In addition, it is proposed to upgrade the Arley/Birchley Heath to Nuneaton route as part of the Quality Bus Initiative (QBI). The QBI concept seeks to increase the number of low-floor buses on high demand tendered bus services.

Eastern Warwickshire

Eastern Warwickshire includes a number of smaller towns and villages that predominantly look towards Rugby as the main retail, employment and administrative centre of the area. The town has strong links with Coventry, Birmingham, Leicester, Northampton, Daventry and Banbury.

Historically, Rugby expanded within its context as a railway town, and still remains a key location on the national rail network. The town has had a long association with heavy engineering: Sir Frank Whittle tested the first jet engine in Rugby in 1937.

Rugby lies at the crossroads of the country, immediately to the south west of the M1/M6/A14 interchange. Its location and communications mean that the town continues to see a significant amount of new development that is likely to continue for the immediate future. The Regional Spatial Strategy has identified Rugby as a potential sub-regional growth area, particularly given the need and opportunities for regeneration in parts of the town. New developments have been implemented at Cawston, Coton and Swift Valley, with further sites to come forward in due course. The former Alstom/GEC site to the north of the railway station and the Livestock Market site are also due for redevelopment by 2010/12. The County Council has been actively involved with Rugby Borough Council and St. Modwen over the last two years in the development of a single master plan covering these two sites. Investment to address the transport needs and consequences of development of this site will largely come through S106 agreements, but some LTP investment may also be required.

Both Councils and the Town Centre Company are in the process of agreeing a vision for Rugby town centre for the year 2020. Work to move towards delivering this vision will continue over the next five years.

The most important transport improvement planned for the area is the Rugby Western Relief Road. This is seen as essential to support the significant development that has already occurred and is planned in Rugby. In order to 'lock in' the traffic reduction benefits in the town centre that will arise from construction of the road, measures are planned that will improve the Warwick Street gyratory for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport (and consequently constrain traffic capacity). Further opportunities for pedestrian priority will be explored in the main shopping areas around the town centre.

The implementation of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement during the LTP period will provide support for the town centre improvements by deterring illegal parking and keeping routes clear for existing and planned bus services.

It is proposed to upgrade Rugby Railway Station in 2007/08 as part of the West Coast Main Line upgrade. In order to compliment these improvements, the County Council is working with the rail industry to develop proposals for an enhanced interchange facility at the station. Improvements to the pedestrian/cycle links between the station and the town centre are also planned.

Two new QBCs are proposed during the LTP: Hillmorton to Rugby town centre, and the inter-urban route from Rugby to Coventry via Wolston and Binley.

Warwick, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Whitnash Urban Area

The four main towns of Warwick, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Whitnash form the southern end of the North/South Corridor and serve a surrounding rural hinterland containing a number of settlements/villages and the market town of Southam.

Warwick is the main administrative centre of the County and Leamington Spa is the principal retail centre. Leamington, Warwick and Whitnash together form an almost continuous urban area with a combined population of around 80,000. Employment within these three towns is primarily split between heavy/light engineering, high technology business and the service sector economy. Kenilworth is a residential dormitory town serving Coventry, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Solihull and Birmingham.

There is a significant commuter population within the area; strong demand for travel by public transport to Birmingham and London resulted in the construction of Warwick Parkway station in 2000, reflecting the vast improvement in rail service provision that has occurred in the Birmingham to London Marylebone corridor over the last 10 years. Further improvements to the station are proposed over the next five years.

Since the construction of the M40 in the early 1990's, the Warwick/Leamington Spa area has seen considerable expansion, including significant development at Heathcote/Tachbrook Park, Hatton Park and South West Warwick (currently under construction). A more modest level of development is proposed over the coming years.

The mix of development, plus a high concentration of secondary schools in the Warwick – Leamington Spa corridor, has resulted in the highest levels of congestion and the lowest journey speeds within the County during the peak periods of the day.

An Urban Mixed Priority Scheme has been implemented in Leamington Spa town centre during 2005/06. This has provided greater safety and priority to pedestrians and cyclists. The reallocation of road space has also enhanced priority for buses, thereby improving bus provision and contributing to the area-wide imperative of providing alternatives to car use in order to reduce congestion and improve safety and air quality.

The SPARK Major Scheme bid was submitted with the Provisional Local Transport Plan in 2005. The scheme aims to achieve a step change in public transport in the two towns to encourage greater use of public transport. If the bid is unsuccessful, some elements of the scheme will still be implemented, including improvements to Warwick bus station, provision of a Park and Ride facility to serve both Warwick and Leamington Spa, and a new bus-rail interchange on the north side of Leamington Spa Station, all of which will be consistent with the Public Transport Interchange Strategy.

Demand for parking is often close to capacity in both Leamington Spa and Warwick town centres. There is widespread abuse of Limited Waiting spaces and other parking offences. The planned introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement will discourage many parking offences and displace demand to other areas which represents a challenge as there is limited capacity available. This issue further highlights the benefit of the planned Park and Ride facility, which will provide an alternative to parking in the town centres, thereby relieving parking pressure and reducing congestion.

Warwick is an historic town that is subject to significant peak hour traffic. During 2004 a package of interim traffic management measures were identified and endorsed by the County Council and are currently in the process of being progressed. Further consultation on additional traffic management measures will be undertaken during this LTP period. To this end, a consultative ‘Forum’ has been set up and funded by the County Council. The outcome of these consultations will also influence the development and implementation of other future transport improvements in Warwick.

Construction began in early 2006 on a bypass for the village of Barford, which lies on the A429 south of Warwick. This is a fully accepted Major Scheme that will deliver an improved quality of life for village residents as well as very considerable economic, environmental and safety benefits. It will also address the AQMA that has been declared in Barford. Completion of the scheme is due in Autumn 2007/08.

A master planning exercise in Kenilworth town centre has been ongoing since 2003, and is focused on improving the retail offer of the town for residents in both the local and wider catchment areas. In parallel with this are a number of proposals for the provision of a local ‘one-stop-shop’, youth training and leisure facilities, and a greater local Police presence. A significant element of the regeneration focuses on the redevelopment of Talisman Square.

Southern and Western Warwickshire

Most of Southern and Western Warwickshire falls within Stratford-on-Avon District, which is one of the largest District administrative areas in England. The main towns within Southern Warwickshire are Stratford-upon-Avon and the market town of Shipston-on-Stour. Within Western Warwickshire, the main towns are Alcester, Studley, Henley-in-Arden and Bidford-upon-Avon. The remainder of the two areas is predominantly rural.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a world tourist destination, a position that is likely to be further enhanced by the proposed redevelopment of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. In terms of retail and employment opportunities, the town is relatively self-sufficient, although the area has strong links with Solihull, Redditch, Birmingham, Banbury and Evesham.

Stratford-upon-Avon has seen a moderate level of expansion over the last 10-15 years, with development on the Birmingham Road, Paddock Lane and more recently at Bridgetown. A master plan to support the town as a World Class destination has been prepared by the County Council, Stratford District Council, the West Midlands Regional Development Agency (Advantage West Midlands) and a significant number of local stakeholders and business interests.

A major consensus building exercise has been undertaken within Stratford-upon-Avon during the first LTP period to develop and agree a transport strategy for the town. The strategy takes account of both existing and future land use and the town's continuing role as one of the major tourist destinations within the UK. A Major Scheme bid for funding for this project was submitted to Government in 2003 but was unsuccessful. However, elements of the strategy will be implemented through use of integrated block funding and some developer funding. The key features of the scheme are increased pedestrian priority, new pedestrian/cycle routes, improved public transport facilities and car park access improvements.

Linked to the these improvements is a proposed new Stratford Western Relief Road linking the A46/A422 Wildmoor roundabout with the B439 Evesham Road. The road will reduce traffic in Stratford town centre and Shottery village, and provide access to new development (currently identified as a reserve site in the Local Plan). It would also provide access to a new coach and car park for Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, one of the key Shakespeare related attractions in the town. Given that the proposed new development would fund the delivery of the road and is unlikely to come forward before 2011, the County Council intends to review the Stratford Transport Strategy to take account of the likely delay to the Western Relief Road being in place.

Bridge Street is the widest and most important shopping street in Stratford town centre. There is heavy usage by pedestrians and current conditions are inadequate; on-street parking is intrusive and the volume of people often exceeds the capacity of the footway. The road also has a poor accident record. The proposed pedestrian/ environmental improvement scheme involves a significant reallocation of road space through the narrowing of the carriageway and very considerable widening of the pavements. Two-way traffic would be maintained, but with features to slow vehicles. There will be several pedestrian crossing points and much better bus stop facilities. The scheme would contribute greatly to improving the quality of experience of the principal town centre street for residents, shoppers and tourists alike, with possible features including seating, kiosks, trees, and pavement cafes. Further pedestrian priority measures in High Street and Waterside/ Southern Lane are proposed, involving widened footways and closure to traffic during part of the day.

A 750 space Park and Ride site is currently being constructed at Bishopton, close to the A46/A3400 roundabout on the northern edge of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is also proposed to establish a new rail station, Stratford Parkway on the Stratford to Birmingham, Leamington and London line, which is adjacent to the site. The Park and Ride car park is linked to the established car park management and route advisory system in the town. Bus services run at a 10 minute frequency thereby delivering a large number of car-borne workers, shoppers and tourists swiftly to the key town centre destinations. It is hoped that the established Decriminalised Parking Enforcement within the District will support the scheme. A second Park and Ride site located to the south of the town will be progressed within the five year programme period if the Bishopton site proves to be a success.

The key issue in Western Warwickshire concerns traffic in the A435 corridor. The section of A435 between Alcester and Gorcott Hill is a poorly aligned single carriageway route that carries traffic flows of the order of 20,000 vehicles per day. This creates safety and environmental problems especially in Studley, Coughton, King’s Coughton and Mappleborough Green. The road is currently the responsibility of the Highways Agency (HA). In the past the HA recognised these problems and a Studley Bypass scheme was designed and the necessary Orders made. However, the scheme has now been withdrawn and the HA are to revoke their previously made Orders, effectively terminating the scheme. It is now likely that the Government will propose the detrunking of the road between the M42 and the A46 Alcester Bypass. Responsibility for the road would therefore transfer to Warwickshire County Council and Worcestershire County Council.

Warwickshire County Council will work in conjunction with the Highways Agency, Stratford District, Redditch Borough and Worcester County Councils to investigate alternative approaches to mitigating the impact of traffic in the corridor.

The County Council will continue to promote a significant improvement to the A46 between Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester.

Warwickshire's Strategic and Local Priorities

Transport has a key role to play in delivering the County Council’s ambitions, and therefore the overall vision to make Warwickshire the best place to live and work. The section below describes our strategic and local priorities during this LTP period and beyond.

Under the heading for each Strategic Priority, the following is provided:

A description and explanation of the priority;
An assessment of the transport and infrastructure measures required to support the priority; and
Details of the evidence base that informs and supports the identification of the priority.

Strategic Priorities

SP1: Accessibility

Priority: To improve levels of accessibility across the County and into adjoining areas, with a particular emphasis on tackling problems in specific geographic areas (e.g. rural and edge of town areas), for specific sections of the community (e.g. low income groups, young and elderly) and for specific journey purposes (e.g. access to GP surgeries).