Thursday, March 15th, 2012
Following the news that a second exit could be in the pipeline at Ventura Park, we spoke to Councillor Rob Pritchard, the deputy leader of Tamworth Borough Council, about the plans. Cllr Pritchard led the single issue debate on Ventura last week.
Many people understandably think the borough council own the land, has responsibility for the roads and can control which companies come to the area. We are hoping to explode some of the myths surrounding Ventura and the council’s role, but also highlight what the local authority can – and can’t do. This is not about shifting the blame, but trying to answer questions we often get.
Cllr Pritchard also explains how the council turned down planning applications on the basis that they would create more traffic, but these were overturned by the national planning inspectorate.
Can you give us a bit of background to Ventura and who is responsible for what?
The roads are the responsibility of Staffordshire County Council. The rest of the site is owned by private companies. The borough council does not have responsibility for the road network, therefore there is little direct action we can take to address traffic issues but we do try and influence our county colleagues and make sure they are aware of the views of our residents.
Ventura was first established in 1990 and in the last twelve months alone has created more than 400 new jobs. It has brought big name stores to the area including John Lewis and Next at Home.
Why are there so many complaints about traffic and Ventura?
Ventura Park is in many ways a victim of its own success. It has brought big names to the area, provides a large number of jobs to local residents and attracts a lot of out of town visitors. However we know there are issues with the traffic and we are working with others to try to improve the situation.
When Ventura Park was first established in 1990, no one could have envisaged just what it would grow into. However we should not let the traffic problems cloud the fact the site is a huge asset to Tamworth.
What can Tamworth Borough Council do about it?
In many ways there is not a lot we as a borough council can do as we don’t own the site or any of the roads. Highways at the County Council and also the Highways Authority look after the roads. However we are working with our colleagues at the County Council to try to make Ventura Park a priority.
Tamworth’s county councillors have also made it their priority. This is not passing the buck or holding our hands up and saying ‘not our problem’, but we do have limitations. Also because we do not own the land, there are restrictions to what we can impose on the site.
We do have responsibility for assessing planning applications. In 2004 we turned down the last retail park expansion application (B&Q and John Lewis) because we believed the site could not cope with more traffic. However, we were overturned by the planning inspectorate and the stores were built anyway.
If the council can’t do anything, who can?
It is not we can’t do anything but a private company own the majority of the land, while Asda and Sainsbury’s own its store and car parks. As I said previously we lobby – and work with – the county council as much as we can. We currently have a project in conjunction with the county council to look at ways to improve access to Ventura and links with the town centre.
Why has Sainsbury’s taken the initiative and not the council over a second exit?
The land is owned by Sainsbury’s, therefore the County Council could only suggest that this could be an option. However Sainsbury’s has been brilliant in taking this forward and we are now very hopeful it will go ahead. Regardless of who is doing what, it could relieve some of the pressure on the network. However this is not a done deal and work is underway to see what pressure additional traffic could put elsewhere.
Why is the traffic so bad?
Both statistics and anecdotal evidence show there are certain peak times of the year when there are problems – there is no denying this and I realise this is little comfort if you have been stuck at the site. However we are also told by the Highways Department that the real problems with traffic begin when the car parks are full. Cars will still try to get onto the site but there is nowhere for them to go.
We are trying to work with the landowners at Ventura to encourage them to come up with a way to manage the car parks from across the entire site, the Sainsbury’s side, Asda and also the M&S and Boots area.
The traffic lights…..
While many people have been critical of the lights they have made a positive difference. There is a view that they should only operate at peak times but they are also there to control the speed which has been an issue in the past – especially late at night. The lights will also help the second exit become a reality as it will help control the extra traffic at the junctions. However the pedestrian access has been improved across the entire site, including a new pedestrian crossing at Riverdrive. By using these, hopefully people will find it easier to get around the site on foot.
All these measures must be costing the taxpayer a fortune…
Every time a planning application is approved, the developer has to pay a sum of money for the road network, so in this case the cost was met by the applicant, not the tax payer. Recent investments include: £1.4m junction improvements, lane widening and traffic management systems, £100,000 for a safe and prominent pedestrian crossing over River Drive and £500k investment in a new roundabout at Cardinal Point, Bonehill Road.
What are you doing about improving the town centre?
We are working with town centre businesses to help where we can, but times are difficult for new businesses to set up. We do what we can to encourage both big names and independent stores to come to Tamworth, try to put them in touch with various places they may be able to receive financial assistance, however we cannot offer cash incentives to traders but we can offer help with business set up and other initiatives.
Thursday, March 8th, 2012
Plans for a second exit which could help traffic congestion at Ventura Park was the topic discussed at a debate by Tamworth Councillors last night (Wednesday March 6).
The Full Council debate focused on Ventura Park – and the raft of benefits it has brought to Tamworth.
However Councillor Steve Claymore, Cabinet Member for Economic Development is set to reveal Sainsbury’s is working on a possible solution to provide a second exit near its store.
According to Cllr Claymore: “Sainsbury’s is in discussion with Staffordshire County Council – and is soon to meet the Highways Agency – to see if a second exit is a viable option, which would hopefully ease congestion around the store’s car park. To date, Sainsbury’s, who own the land, has been working with a consultant to look at traffic and speed data, to ascertain what affect their proposals would have. We believe this data will be discussed imminently with both the county council and the Highways Authority.”
However Cllr Claymore ‘urged caution’ on the news as it is still in the early stages. “While this looks to be a promising project, it is vital we do not raise expectations that any work will definitely go ahead. This is work in progress and negotiations are ongoing between everyone involved. We do not want to undermine any work Sainsbury has done by making announcements that this project is definitely going to happen. I would like to thank Sainsbury’s for all its hard work on this issue. The organisation has been working hard for a number of months to come up with a solution to traffic issues at Ventura Park, specifically around its store. While many local people perceive traffic at Ventura being a problem, we should not ignore the progress which has already been made such as the traffic lights, along with the economic benefits the site brings to Tamworth.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson confirmed: “A second exit from the car park should relieve congestion for the benefit of shoppers at the Jolly Sailor Retail Park, including our customers and colleagues. We are currently in the early stages of developing plans and discussing the idea with key parties”.
If the plans are viable, Sainsbury is hopeful the proposal would benefit shoppers at the retail park, but also said it could not guarantee wider benefits for the road network.
As well as the project to provide a second exit, councillors will also discuss work to improve links between the town centre and Ventura, an increased frequency bus service, along with the wider economic benefits the retail park has brought to Tamworth.
Ventura Park was established in 1990 and Sainsbury were one of the first stores to move to the retail park. The site has attracted major stores such as Asda, Next, TK Maxx and Argos. Marks and Spencer also came to the area following a long battle to get them here, as the store was initially reluctant to due a store in neighbouring Sutton Coldfield. In the last 12 months Ventura Park has attracted four major brand retailers creating more than 400 jobs and utilising over 111,000sqft of retail units
Recent major investments include:
- John Lewis – £7 million investment – 200 jobs – 42,000sqft
- B&Q – £6 million investment – 110 jobs – 45,000sqft
- Next – 14,641qft – 53 jobs
- Maplin – 10,000sqft – 40 jobs
Both the borough and county councils have been working with developers to ensure that section 106 agreement improvements to the road network and pedestrian measures. Section 106 (money paid by developers) improvements include:
- £1.4m junction improvements, lane widening and traffic management systems
- £100,000 for a safe and prominent pedestrian crossing over River Drive
- £500k investment in a new roundabout at Cardinal Point, Bonehill Road.
Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, commented: “Many residents contacted me about the traffic problems around Ventura and I raised the matter with the County Council. They told me they hope a second exit from Sainsbury’s car park can be planned as quickly as possible. I am pleased Sainsbury’s, who own the land, and the County Council, who are responsible for highways, are now working closely with Tamworth Borough Council to end the gridlock.”
Deputy Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, Cllr Robert Pritchard, moved a number of motions at the meeting which were all supported by councillors. They were –
That the council –
- Endorse the Assembly Rooms regeneration proposals.
- Praise Staffordshire County Council on their efforts to tackle the traffic at Ventura, and reaffirms it’s drive for a second exit by Argos and right turn at Fazeley Road/River Drive Junction.
- Work with local letting agents to list, and help market, vacant town centre shops to a wider retail audience.
- Reaffirme our commitment to free town centre events.
- Reaffirm our commitment to the future Gungate development.
Monday, March 5th, 2012
The Government’s victory in passing the Welfare Reform Bill, ensuring that no family can get more in benefits than the average working family earns, has been welcomed by Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth.
Under the reforms, benefit payments to a household on out of work benefits will be capped at £26,000 per year so that work always pays. Under Labour, some households received up to a staggering £104,000 per year in Housing Benefit alone.
Labour opposed this fair cap on benefits, voting to maintain a “something for nothing” culture in which some families who do not work get thousands of pounds more in welfare handouts than the average working family income through hard work.
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said, “Today marks an historic step in the biggest welfare revolution in over 60 years. This government has taken bold action to make work pay, while protecting the vulnerable.
“Past governments have talked about reform, while watching the benefits bill sky rocket and generations languish on the dole and dependency. This government is delivering it. Our new law will mark the end of the culture that said a life on benefits was an acceptable alternative to work.”
Tamworth’s local MP Christopher Pincher commented, “In Tamworth, the average person would need to pay tax for 28 years to fund one household to receiving £104,000 in benefits a year, which could happen if Labour had their way.”
“This benefit cap shows that Conservatives are the party of fairness, standing up for hard working taxpayers. In fact, I have received several messages from constituents saying the cap should be lower. By voting against it, Labour has once again shown they are the party of something for nothing.”
Tamworth Borough Council is putting an application together to bid for up to £100,000 of ‘Portas Pilot’ funding to help improve the town centre.
