A PUBLIC meeting is to be held at Studley High School tomorrrow night, Friday, November 3, to discuss the findings of a report into the volume of traffic using the A435 from Mappleborough Green, through Studley to Coughton.
Chaired by Nadhim Zahawi, MP for Stratford district, it will run from 5.30pm to 8pm when findings from the report will be presented and possible ways forward proposed.
There will also be a question and answer session for the public to quiz the experts.
However traffic campaigners have already reacted with dismay to the study, carried out by transport consultants Atkins at the request of Warwickshire County Council, following sustained pressure from local residents and councillors.
Campaigners say the report’s findings, that most of the traffic is locally generated and serves local needs with few practical steps to reduce, it is questionable.
“The report is a load of absolute bumpkin!” said Nicky Edden, who lives on the busy road in Studley.
“They seem to have been deliberately vague in the categories they’ve used and their own sums do not add up.
“They also only did the study over one 24 hour period when its well known traffic volumes increase on a Thursday and Friday.
“As for the suggestions they’ve made to ease the situation I don’t know why they bothered as the cons all outweigh the pros.”
A further concern is that the proposed Redditch Eastern Gateway, to be built off the A435 on Gorcott Hill, was outside the remit of the study.
District Councillor Justin Kerridge, (Con, Studley & Mappleborough Green) while praising the county’s officers for their support in raising the traffic issue, also regretted the lack of proposals to ease the situation.
“We have a problem with traffic in Studley and I am disappointed with the solutions that have been mooted.
“There’s only one thing that will stop the traffic and that’s a great big expensive bypass and I do not see that happening.
“So I would like to see someone who knows what they are talking about coming up with a bunch of solutions that are better than the ones given to us by Atkins.”
Coun Hazel Wright (Lib Dem, Studley & Sambourne) added: “I have not got a lot of faith in this process. What we need is the traffic taken out of Studley.
“When they proposed building Aldi in the village I told them it would increase traffic congestion and they said oh no it won’t and look at it now – it’s where congestion and pollution is at its worst.”
