MP and Council Leader Question Ventura Traffic Plans

Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, and Leader of Tamworth Council, Cllr Danny Cook, have joined forces over concerns at further planned development at Ventura Retail Park. In 2004 Tamworth Borough Council turned down additional retail developments on empty land at Ventura Retail Park due to traffic volume worries.

The Council’s decision was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate and former Secretary of State for Transport, John Prescott.  The Inspectorate gave permission to the developers with the condition that they place traffic lights on the Ventura Park and Jolly Sailor traffic islands.   Construction work on both islands is due to start in January.  The MP and the Conservative Council are concerned that this will lead to further congestion at Ventura.

Christopher Pincher said:
“It is clear neither the Planning Inspectorate nor John Prescott knew much about Tamworth when they overruled to local council.  The decision made several years ago may haunt us for years to come.  The Borough Council, unfortunately, is powerless to stop this.  The ‘London knows best’ approach of the last government robbed local people of their opportunity to influence local infrastructure.  The new government is starting to turn this around but I fear that will come too late to halt the plans for Ventura Park.”
“I have yet to be convinced this will help the traffic movement around Ventura Park.  I am concerned we may end up with grid lock for several months and worse congestion as a permanent feature thereafter. “

Mr. Pincher has promised to do all he can to support the Council in its desire to review the proposals and confirm their viability.

Cllr Daniel Cook, Leader of the Council, said:
“I support the creation of Jobs and income coming into the town. It is important that we make this drive sustainable and think long term. The current developments offer this but give me serious concern about the extra traffic using Ventura. I need to see more evidence that traffic lights are the answer.  My key concern is standing traffic. Tamworth Borough Council turned down both planning applications due to reasons of traffic impact.  Building both sets of lights at the same time could cause chaos.”

He added:
“Yet the former government then agreed them both with traffic lights at Jolly Sailor and Sainsbury’s roundabouts. This was not locally planned and we need to check if the idea has merit, this is the main worry I have about the project. I think the people of Tamworth need more of a say in the changes at Ventura. I pledge to investigate the changes to the road network at Ventura and report my finding back to the people of Tamworth as soon as I can”.