Are a chance in a life time?

I am talking about the Stroud Canal Project of course, and the answer to the question depends on who you talk too.

I am concerned that the project may be rushed through leaving key elements of the community ‘Out of the Loop’

Local Traders have voted with their feet and left the concordat (the partnership between the Chamber of Trade and the District, County and Town Councils) This is highly regrettable and I’m hoping everyone comes to their senses.

The Traders are not being consulted properly about the proposed traffic management (The Canal over the A46 will cause a certain amount of disruption.  How much know one really knows…) but lack of real consultation is pretty typical of the whole planning process…

What we need to do is to involve and explain more. (And listen to what people are actually saying!) If we don’t then the Canal will stay as an expensive failure and Stroud will be robbed of a fantastic opportunity for growth and regeneration.

So some local traders are worried that the A46 Canal Bridge will put them out of business…

The construction of the crossing may well mean challenges for traffic management, but there are plenty of ways of mitigating the disruption.  Opening Russell Street and London Road to two way traffic is on the cards anyway with the “Public Realm Strategy” currently undergoing consulation.  

The benefits to the Town and District of opening a waterway between the severn and Thames far out way a few months of adjustment.  Stroud will boom!

Lets not lose sight of that…