GREENWAY RAIL LINK WOULD BOOST TOURISM
A GROUP which has been promoting the reinstatement of the railway line from Stratford-upon-Avon to Long Marston for two years have sent a report extolling the benefits and feasibility of such a scheme to every county, district and Stratford town councillor.
The Shakespeare Line Promotion Group distributed the report on Monday in the hope of having the £25-to-£50 million scheme included in the local transport plan—a document prepared by Warwickshire County Council in consultation which sets out key transport policies and proposals.
The report, entitled ‘The Case for an Avon Rail Link’, calls for a six-mile, single-line between Stratford and Long Marston to be reinstated alongside the Greenway footpath.
Campaigners believe this would connect the West Midlands and Cotswold rail networks, boost tourism in Stratford and help reduce traffic through surrounding villages including Welford, Binton and Clifford Chambers.
The promotion group says consultants have confirmed it would be entirely feasible to re-open the line and it would support the development at Long Marston, where St Modwen have permission to create a leisure village to include 150 holiday homes, 150 holiday lodges and up to 500 dwellings.
The line to Long Marston closed in 1976 but most of the trackbed is still intact. The group argue the width of the Greenway would enable a single line, with suitable fencing, to co-exist alongside the footpath, which is popular with cyclists, walkers and tourists.
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