A vision of multi-lane junctions in our towns

These are the conclusions drawn by members of the Warwick Society after careful scrutiny of the county council’s strategic transport assessment proposals.

Members of the society - who are dedicated to conserving the town - make no bones about saying they will challenge the housing and transport proposals at every opportunity.

Chairman James Mackay fears that both Warwick and Leamington could end up as little more than a gyratory system servicing what they see as suburban sprawl and the 
Local Plan describes as garden suburbs.

He already believes not addressing the worsening air quality in the town centre is ‘a gross dereliction of duty.’

He has outlined his fears for the domination of traffic in the town if hundreds of new homes are built, particularly around Gallows Hill and 
Europa Way.

Mr Mackay said: “The district council’s Local Plan has been delayed by a review of the number of new houses required.

“The existing Preferred Options include building at least 2,900 homes on greenfield sites in the south-east of Warwick.

“An alternative would increase this to 5,250 - adding over 12,000 homes - or 40 per cent to the town’s population. Only lately have the implications of this growth for traffic and for Warwick’s historic town centre been spelt out.”

A county council consultants’ report proposes new traffic light junctions in Warwick in Banbury Road at Bridge End, in Castle Hill (outside the castle) and where Priory Road meets St Nicholas Church Street, as well as along Europa Way on the approach to Leamington.

Junctions would be widened to increase the flow of vehicles.

Mr Mackay added: “Journeys would be slower than they are now, congestion would be worse, pollution would be increased; and for other users of the streets, on foot or cycling, conditions would be even worse.

“The pretence that these developments would be green garden suburbs is exposed by the transport assessment.

“They would be just as car-dependent as other estates of recent decades. Warwick town centre would be merely a gyratory system for the suburban sprawl.

“Its fragile economy, its beautiful buildings and the people who live there and breathe the polluted air would all be damaged.

“We call on the councils to reject the proposals, to correct the exaggerated projection of housing need and to save Warwick from this awful threat.”