University developments accused of ignoring traffic in local area

Locals in Coventry have complained about the city council’s decision to approve the building of Warwick’s multi-million National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) which is feared to increase traffic congestion.

Planning approval was given for the 93 million research centre which will employ around one thousand workers. The centre will be built on the land once used for sports fields at the edge of Warwick’s campus, behind Kirby Corner road.

Locals believe the city council are continually being swayed by the university’s promises of research and jobs while ignoring local issues such as traffic chaos, tailbacks and over-development.

Some members of the planning committee first showed concerns of traffic issues a few years ago when approval was given for an expansion of Tescos in Canon Park, which lies just outside the university.

Despite the complaints, the council are not spending money directly on the campus. The NAIC is paid for by industry with fifteen million pounds coming from national government agencies.

Over the next two years, the council will be spending money on a series of road improvements around the city. The projects are taking place with the aim of ensuring that traffic flows more smoothly.

Many of these projects will be funded by the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Warwick University.

Peter Dunn, head of communications at Warwick stated: “This extensive programme of work across the city, to us shows a very farsighted council that is clearly demonstrating its commitment to ensure that Coventry and all its people have the right transport infrastructure to support and address the welcome economic growth across the city, not just in the area surrounding our own campus.”

Sandeep Purewal, first-year English Literature undergraduate, lives in Coventry. He said: “While I am certainly for the development of the university’s campus, something needs to be done about congestion.

A National Automotive Innovation Centre does not sound essential by any means: the council should, without a doubt, be trying to reduce traffic in the area rather than increasing it. Although if the building in development was, for example, more Student Accommodation, my opinion would probably be different.”