Avon Navigation Scheme fails to win district council support
Stratford-on-Avon District Council will not be supporting a major project which could have led to the extension of the Avon Navigation from Stratford to Warwick.
The decision at today's meeting of Cabinet, follows high level assessment carried out on behalf of the Council and its partners Warwick District Council and the Avon Navigation trust to establish the potential environmental and socio- economic impacts if such a scheme were put in place.
The final report which was presented to Councillors indicated that the economic case of an extension in terms of tourism potential, expected capital costs and environmental costs would not make it a viable option for further investment.
Cllr Mark Cargill, deputy leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: “Unfortunately the business case for this proposal is weak with the environmental and capital costs outweighing the benefits. I would like to draw a line under this element of the proposal – it would be unfair that residents, landowners and businesses should have a cloud hanging over them in the potential for the scheme to be resurrected in the future.
“However the report to open up a footpath between Stratford and Warwick is another matter and this will be sent to Warwickshire County Council for consideration as the authority responsible for footpaths."
Members agreed that no further work would take place to progress the scheme other than totpath improvements along the Avon corridor between Warwick and Stratford.