POSSIBLE CANAL BRIDGING AND ROAD CLOSURE IN DONNINGTON
Many of you, I am sure, read with interest the lead article concerning the Canal Trust’s plans in the current copy of the Observer (15 July ) particularly concerning an option to close the road through Donnington.
I am pleased to say that this did not catch us unawares on the Parish Council but was discussed at our recent meeting, so I can bring you up to date on our thoughts so far.
Very clearly there are a number of issues here, not least the difficulty and expense of a major bridging operation over the Canal at Donnington which, possibly, leads to the only practical option of closing the road to all but a small pedestrian and cycle bridge. However, this will require the widening of Wopham`s Lane to take the resultant traffic and have serious knock-on effects on the remaining roads into and out of the manhood.
It is essential that we do also see it in the wider context of the road improvements envisaged under the Draft County Structure Plan especially the possible Stockbridge Relief Road which, as we read in the paper "is to be
kept as close as possible to the existing urban area " i.e. parts of Birdham Road and Marden, Gordon and Graydon Avenues.
Very clearly not only Donnington but all our neighbouring parishes will be affected as well as those to the south of the Peninsula. At this moment there is little for us to do except gather some initial thoughts until the County Council reaches a point where it needs to decide how to proceed.
AT THAT POINT THE PARISH COUNCIL PROPOSES A FULL PUBLIC DEBATE LED BY AN OFFICER FROM THE DISTRICT OR COUNTY COUNCILWHO CAN IDENTIFY FOR US ALL THE OPTIONS WITH THEIR FULL IMPLICATIONS SO WE CAN CONSIDER ALL THE PROS AND CONS AND TOGETHER REACH A PROPERLY INFORMED VIEW.
This is the only way we believe we can identify and represent the view of us all here in Donnington, and, I am pleased to say, this course of action is supported by our District Council.
We will do our best to keep you informed.
Yours sincerely
John Ridd Chairman,
Donnington Parish Council