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Stratford Riverside 

Project

 
 
The vision

The Stratford Riverside Project is a partnership between Stratford on Avon District Council and Stratford Town Trust. £1.5 m of grant funding has been secured from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership via the government's Getting Building Fund giving Stratford a special opportunity to create new leisure and economic opportunities, reduce congestion, and improve air quality.

LATEST NEWS:

 

 

 

31/03/23 The Lench Meadows Independent Review

 

Following concerns raised by local Facebook group, Friends of the Lench Meadows, Stratford Town Trust commissioned Hydrock, a Land Contamination specialist,  to carry out a post project review. The Trust are extremely reassured that  in their expert view,  Hydrock consider there is  a minimal risk to the public accessing the Lench Meadows. Nonetheless, they also identify that across the project mistakes were made and there are lessons to be learned. The Trust acknowledges this, and Stratford District Council have been informed.

Hydrock were asked to review:

  • The remediation action taken following the discovery of asbestos containing materials and, in their opinion, any immediate or future risk to the public.

  • Earthworks and materials management process relating to the  reuse of excavated materials around the site to create new wildlife habitats and a new pathway;  and removal of surface vegetation in some areas to remove dominant species and enable planting.

 

Their findings confirm that the work conducted was reasonable and proportionate with minimal potential for resulting contamination. The consultant says  that initial ground investigation work to understand the former landfill site was completed to a reasonable standard. Movement of earth as part of the  project led to the discovery of some asbestos containing materials and Hydrock were able to confirm that the remediation works that  dealt with this were appropriate, in line with recommendations and identify little potential for ongoing contamination risks.

 

Separately, the report does identify some faults in the project process. Specifically in the failure to correctly record the movement of soil  and  a misunderstanding on the part of the main contractor of the industry code of practice. In Hydrock’s view this failure to comply with the code of practice is serious but presents, “a minimal risk to the public from contaminated materials placed or disturbed during the project and in its completed state.”

 

The Trust on behalf of the project is happy to comply with the three recommendations made:

  1. That an area on the smaller mound to the east is subject to a further hand pick to remove near surface inappropriate materials (glass, half bricks and brick fragments) and the area is dressed in appropriate clean soils.

  2. That an airborne monitoring assessment is undertaken to indicate any asbestos fibre release from the ground. The consultant says, “Whilst I think it is highly unlikely that any fibres will be detected this can provide further reassurance that the work undertaken is satisfactory and the site is considered suitable for use.”  

  3. That Stratford-on-Avon District Council  provides Hydrock’s findings and the background information which supports it to the Environment Agency.

 

Stratford Town Trust will work with SDC to action the recommendations  and have confirmation that SDC have  already taken steps to refer the matter to the Environment Agency as the enforcement authority. Sara Aspley, CEO Stratford Town Trust says  “We genuinely understand the concerns felt by members of the public regarding safety at The Lench Meadows and we hope that the findings of the independent review provides reassurance.   The ongoing safety of the public is of paramount importance and the area is regularly inspected by SDC and STT staff with all volunteering activity supported by all necessary Health and Safety compliance”.

 

Tony Jackson, Chair of Trustees says “We recognise the value of commissioning this independent report, we are reassured by the findings and are happy to act on all of the recommendations. Stratford Town Trust remain committed to achieving Local Nature Reserve status for the Lench Meadows as a space in nature for the local community to enjoy for generations to come.”

 

Read the Background Briefing and Summary Findings here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental considerations

Working closely with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, a key pillar of the project is to protect, restore and enhance the area's rich biodiversity. By connecting the riverside from the north at Fisherman's Car Park to the south at Lucy's Mill, Stratford will have a natural green leisure corridor that will help improve the health and quality of life today and for future

generations. You can read a statement from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Middlemarch Environmental click on the button below. 

Consultation

The initial concept designs were made available for public consultation between 23 November 2020 and 31 March 2021. We received 515 responses directly from the public. Key stakeholders, local groups, organisations and businesses were invited to feedback separately. A robust methodology applied to ensure that all responses were fairly considered. The analysis was undertaken by the Performance, Consultation and Insight Unit from Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Full details of how this was carried out along with the responses are included in the consultation analysis report. 

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Scheme Bid and Design

​Posts

 

The creation of a major new accessible public open space will deliver significant well-being benefits to both residents and visitors. The space could offer quality time in an outside natural environment and help deliver mental and physical health benefits to all. This area is a blank canvas for a special place that celebrates, nature, fitness, well-being and creativity.

 

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environmentAL Benefits

Ian Jelley, Director of Living Landscapes at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said: ''WWT and its environmental consultancy Middlemarch Environmental, have been advising SDC and STT on how to recognise, protect and enhance the most valuable areas for wildlife on the site. Lack of management in recent years has led to the emergence of dominant species that are outcompeting other plants and reducing the overall, diversity for nature. We believe it will be possible to improve the site for wildlife and also improve public access, enabling people to get closer to nature in their daily lives."

Possibilities

Economic Benefits

The project will help stimulate the local economy, generate jobs and support existing businesses. Creating new open spaces will help deliver more visitors to the RSC and Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and increase dwell time within the town. There are also opportunities to create new small businesses around the new leisure and recreation spaces. In a post Covid-19 economy these stimuli will be important.   

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Riverside North

The riverside in front of Fisherman's Car Park offers possibilities as a watersports and swimming area (as it was in the 1920s and 30s) along with pick up points for electric boat taxis going into town. The car park could be extended into the shrubland to the left of this picture to provide more parking and toilets. Any parking revenues generated could be used to help maintain and improve the land.

 

Riverside South

The southern area of riverside up to Lucy's Mill Bridge could have improved pedestrian and cycle crossing access, river taxi pick up and drop off points, plus picnic and barbecue areas, event and performance space and areas for children to play safely. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Stratford became an important riverside leisure destination for many people attracted by its open spaces. Enhancing the town's 'green appeal' will further improve its allure to visitors.

 

The economic benefits from a revitalised southern riverside could be considerable.  

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Accessibility For All

Pathways, bridges and walkways could be made wider and more accessible for more people. There's currently little access into large parts of the north riverside for walkers which presents opportunities to connect up multiple pathways and create circular leisure walking routes.

IMPROVING BIODIVERSITY

Dr Nick Steggall, Associate Director at Middlemarch Environmental said: "Due to the lack of traditional meadow managing techniques, the habitats on the site are becoming dominated with vigorous grass species which are outperforming the traditional meadow flora, reducing the diversity of the site. A key recommendation of the Local Wildlife Site survey in 2020 is that 'Urgent work should include restoring the northern river meadow to an MG4 flood meadow (a national priority habitat)'. The future objective is to maintain the mosaic of habitats and identify if additional ecological enhancements can be undertaken." 

 

 

   

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Stratford-on-Avon District Council - Rec

New to the Recreation Ground

 

A new natural play area made from Robinia hardwood timber for children aged between 7-14 years, including:

  • Cantilevered Basket Swing

  • Climbing Log Apparatus

  • Climbing Ropes

  • Embankment Slide

  • Sensory Totem Poles

  • Trim Trail

  • Zip Wire

Managing the Flood Plain

We know the riverside floods and the photos on the right were taken as recently as December last year. Because of this it's unlikely that there will be any large, permanent structures built. We are consulting with the Environment Agency to manage the flood plain and potentially reduce or better control the amount of floodwater on Warwick Road Lands and Fisherman's Car Park. Reclaiming some of this space from flooding through better flood-management and restoring and improving drainage is an important part of the project.   

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The Recreation Ground

The 'Rec' - as Stratfordians call it - has multiple opportunities for cycling training, natural play areas, formal sports provisions, gym apparatus, pitches and new sports club facilities along with community orchards and gardens. This area could become the heart of Stratford's leisure, sports and recreational facilities. The surrounding car parking area with its established power supply could also provide a significant amount of electric car chargers.   

history
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history

Stratford's Colourful Riverside 

 Stratford has always used its river as a place for leisure and recreation. In the early 19th century the riverside was much more well-used than it is now with a formal regatta, boat racing, and a lido. In the 1930s 'The Old Bathing Place' - the area in front of Fisherman's Car Park - was much more developed with diving boards, water chute, changing huts and a swimmer's safety boom.

If you have any photos or memories they could help uncover riverside's past and help create a public exhibition.

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electric Car charging Hub

Stratford would benefit from an electric charging hub to encourage EV use and help improve air quality in the town. There is potential to site an EV hub in the Leisure Centre car park and near the Recreation Ground.   

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Electric Bike and Scooter Hire

Zero-emission electric bike and scooter hire could give visitors and residents a clean enjoyable way of entering the town through riverside without sitting in traffic jams. 

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Park & Boat...

Electric river taxis could make journeys in and out of Stratford a special event as well as helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality. River taxis could do regular runs from Fisherman's Car Park to Bancroft Gardens and back again.   

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