Warwick town centre to benefit from a new transport package costing nearly £4.5m - here's what it includes

Warwick town centre is to benefit from a new transport package costing nearly £4.5m.

The long-awaited scheme was approved at this week’s annual meeting of Warwickshire County Council and will see a range of measures including priority signals for buses leaving the town centre and a new permanent one-way system along key roads in the town.

It is hoped that the new scheme will complement a number of measures already put in place including the 20mph zone for the town centre and traffic calming features.

Cllr Peter Butlin (Con, Admirals and Cawston), the portfolio holder for finance and property, explained: “We are trying to create a good environment for Warwick town which I must point out was designed and built at a time when the horse and cart were prevalent.

“By doing this it will hopefully preserve those historic interests we have in Warwick and maintain them so that people will still want to come to Warwick.”

In details, the £4.418m transport package will see:

~ A one-way system introduced on The Butts and High Street/Jury Street to ease vehicle flow and create more space for other road users.

~ Changes will be made to the town’s gateways with highway improvements planned for Westgate, Eastgate and St Johns junctions to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

~ Wider pavements and new crossing points will Improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and new cycle lanes/shared use cycleways and cycle-contraflow will be introduced.

~ Priority signals will be installed to allow ease of access from Warwick bus station.

Cllr Parminder Singh Birdi (Con, Warwick South) was pleased the improvements were finally on the way after first being mentioned in a transport review six years ago.

He said: “The progress of the scheme has been a little slow due to funding allocation but the completed plan is most welcome.

“The scheme’s objectives of improving air quality, supporting the local economy, promoting a healthier and active community and protecting the historic built environment are the ones we all agree with.

"All Warwick town councillors will continue to work together to deliver these objectives.”

And Cllr John Holland (Lab, Warwick West) added: “It seems that complete agreement has broken out.

"I think this is probably the most consulted on project that the county council has ever had - probably from before the time when people had horses and carts and just had to walk.

“We have an air quality management zone order in place on Warwick town centre and this scheme is intended to lead to that order being revoked - we all want to see that day.”