Tag Archives: Stratford

Parkway station contractor appointed

Warwickshire County Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Mott MacDonald Limited to produce the outline designs for the new Stratford Parkway Station scheme.

Mott MacDonald was appointed after submitting the most competitive proposal for the works and by demonstrating strong experience in the design of new railway stations. The firm has previously designed the successful Warwick and Coleshill Parkway stations in the county.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport and Highways, said: “This appointment of a contractor with such a good track record is a key milestone in the delivery phase for the Parkway Station scheme, after funding was awarded to the county council by the Department for Transport last year. The outline design work is expected to be complete by early summer 2012 and remains in line with our goal to open the new station by December 2013.”

Mark Alton, Divisional Director for Mott MacDonald Limited, said: “We are delighted to be appointed as designer for Stratford Parkway Station which completes our hat-trick of Parkway stations in Warwickshire. We have been associated with Parkway stations in the county for well over ten years now.

“Our first Parkway Station design was the highly successful Warwick Parkway which we designed in 2000 and more recently we prepared the outline design for Coleshill Parkway which was completed in 2007.”

Warwickshire County Council is being supported by experienced rail industry consultants in the delivery of the scheme. SLC Rail has been appointed to oversee the rail elements of the project including design development and procurement of the new station, and enhanced train services. SLC Rail will be supported by project and programme management provided by Right Results Project Management and Central Programme Management respectively.

Work on delivering the scheme is progressing well and it is anticipated that a package of new Saturday and weekday evening train services will be announced in due course. A whole raft of sustainable travel measures are also to be announced during 2012, in preparation for the station opening the following year.

The £8.8 million Stratford-upon-Avon Local Sustainable Transport Project has the support of London Midland, Centro and Network Rail, rail users, potential passengers, both Stratford District Council and Stratford Town Council, Sustrans, the Shakespeare Line Promotion Group and Rail Future.

It is forecast that the project will attract 114,000 new rail trips to the new station and the existing town station by 2024/2025. The extra revenue generated will help fund more trains during weekdays, on Saturdays and provide a regular evening service to both Stratford stations.

 

Stratford Park and Ride open for shoppers

Stratford Park and Ride will be opening over the Christmas period to help bargain hunters get to the sales.

The Bishopton facility will be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day but will open over the festive period including Boxing Day (Monday 26 December), Christmas Bank Holiday (Tuesday 27 December) and New Year Bank Holiday (Monday 2 January).

Cllr Peter Butlin, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Highways, said: “Shoppers will be flocking into Stratford during the festive holiday to take advantage of the sales in the shops and the wonderful busy atmosphere generated around the town. Visitors and locals can be confident that parking should not be a problem because we have ensured that the Park and Ride will be open as normal and additionally on the three bank holidays.”

Patronage of the scheme continues to increase with approximately 127,000 passenger journeys undertaken last year, an increase of 11.6 per cent compared to 2009.

Fares are priced at £1.70 for adults and 75p for children, a maxi family ticket for two adults and up to four children is £3 and a group ticket for up to five adults is £5.

Details of the opening times and other information about the Stratford Park and Ride are displayed on the Warwickshire County Council website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/stratfordparkandride

 

Traffic signal improvements for Birmingham Road junction

Warwickshire County Council is pleased to announce that roadworks required for the new Aldi store and Barratt Homes development in Stratford are scheduled to start in the New Year.

The £500,000 roadworks scheme is due to commence on Tuesday 3 January and is expected to be completed by May in time for the opening of the store.

The work will involve widening the Birmingham Road and Hamlet Way to allow for the installation of traffic signals at the junction. The traffic signals will aid vehicles to turn into and out of Hamlet Way and will incorporate pedestrian and cycling facilities. The work will also include installing an underground culvert across the junction and improvements to other underground utility apparatus.

Unfortunately some disruption and delays will be unavoidable and there will be temporary traffic management including three-way temporary lights during the works. The contractor will endeavour to keep delays and disruption to a minimum.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport and Highways, said: “The planned development of the site includes both residential and retail premises which will provide future accommodation and employment opportunities for the residents of Stratford, further improving the economic prosperity of the town.”

“The enhancements to the junction are intended to help locals and visitors by improving the safety of this busy intersection. The work will start after the busy holiday period and we ask motorists to bear with us while it is carried out.”

 

New £1.26m bridge for town station

Stratford’s town train station is to benefit from a new £1.26m footbridge for passengers after the Government approved a Warwickshire County Council funding bid.

Transport Minister Norman Baker MP, who last month visited the station ahead of the announcement, approved the funding for a new disability compliant footbridge at the town station which will be fitted with lifts. The scheme is to be completed by March 2014.

The improvements are being funded as part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme which aims to improve access to railway stations. The funding bid was for a £1m contribution, with the balance expected to be met from developer contributions collected in the Stratford area.

Warwickshire County Council will be working with London Midland and Network Rail to deliver the scheme. It is expected that the county council will manage and deliver the scheme and hand it over to Network Rail once constructed.

When it is built, the new footbridge will mean that people will no longer have to use the barrow crossing – a mini level crossing between the platforms – if taking a train from the island platform. The barrow crossing is problematic for passengers who cannot manage the stairs because it requires a long walk and a wait for station staff to escort them across the track.

The existing step footbridge will remain in place, following its recent restoration by Network Rail.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, said: “The new footbridge is a much-needed improvement which will help bring the station up to date by providing better access for passengers.

“The securing of this funding reaffirms our commitment to the long-term future of the town station and that it continues to be a vital transport hub after the opening of the new Parkway station.”

Nicola Moss, London Midland’s Head of Franchise Management said: “We are delighted that Stratford-upon-Avon station is going to become step-free as a result of this funding. This will be of real benefit to many of our customers.”

 

County Council staff to move into Elizabeth House

The staff, who work within the newly-formed People Group, provide children’s services and adult care.

The move will see staff leave six county council buildings in a relocation programme due to start in January 2012.  These are

  • Turnpike Gate  House (already vacated)
  • 8 Rother Street
  • Arden Court
  • Arden House
  • Ellen Badger House
  • The Grange at Southam (although this may depend on a suitable satellite in Southam being identified).

They will join staff from Stratford-on-Avon District Council in Elizabeth House which has been the district council headquarters since 1984.

The relocation of county staff will further encourage joined up working between county and district.

By vacating the buildings, and paying rent to Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the county council will make a net revenue saving of approximately £120,000 per annum, whilst contributing towards the district council’s savings plan.

Councillor Colin Hayfield, portfolio holder for customers, access and physical assets, said:  “It makes so much sense to relocate county council staff alongside their district council partners.  Bringing services together under one roof will greatly benefit how we work.

“The number of buildings from which we operate our business will become increasingly important as we become a leaner organisation.  This is an excellent example of how becoming leaner will actually help to provide an environment where we can work more efficiently.”

Stratford-on-Avon District Council Leader, Cllr Chris Saint says: “By sharing office space with our partners it provides for closer joint working on projects and initiatives and at the same time helps to share the property-related costs between the partners.  This makes better use of the office space we occupy.  Sharing facilities means the public will also have a convenient one-stop-shop where they can access local services.  In these challenging times, our innovative agreement shows how authorities can achieve real savings by working together.”

Minister backs town transport scheme

Transport Minister Norman Baker MP has spoken about the benefits of planned improvements to public transport in Stratford following his recent visit to the town.

The Minister was shown around Stratford town station and the site for the new Stratford Parkway station at Bishopton by Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport.

The two stations are central to the £8.8 million Stratford-upon-Avon Local Sustainable Transport Project which will deliver vastly improved train services, enhancements to the Park and Ride bus services, smarter choices measures, electric vehicle charging points and a ‘Boris Bikes’ cycle hire scheme.

The county council is funding the project to the tune of £1.86m and the Department of Transport has awarded £4.995m through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Transport Minster Norman Baker said: “This £4.9m funding will make a big difference to the area – creating growth and cutting carbon in a way that exactly meets the twin objectives of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

“The new railway station and park and ride service will be crucial in encouraging travel by rail, thus easing congestion on the road network as well. The secure cycle parking will also encourage more people to travel by bike and rail – one of the greenest and healthiest ways to travel.”

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, added: “The visit of the Transport Minister Norman Baker MP is a ringing endorsement of the Stratford-upon-Avon Local Sustainable Transport Project. It provides recognition that the scheme will provide better public transport for rail passengers in Stratford and surrounding areas, and will help to put the town back on the railway map.

“It is thanks to the Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund that we have been able to take this scheme forward, which will deliver improvements including enhancements at the existing town station and a brand new station on the outskirts of Stratford.

“The tourist industry is worth £360 million a year to Stratford and these transport developments will provide important connections to Birmingham and London for tourists and businesses.”

The scheme has the support of London Midland, Centro and Network Rail, rail users, potential passengers, both Stratford District Council and Stratford Town Council, Sustrans, the Shakespeare Line Promotion Group and Rail Future.

It is forecast that the project will attract 114,000 new rail trips to the new station and the existing town station by 2024/2025. The extra revenue generated will help fund more trains during weekdays, on Saturdays and provide a regular evening service to both Stratford stations.

It is hoped that new evening and weekend services will start in April 2012 and the weekday off-peak services will start when the station opens in December 2013.