Students sceptical of pedestrianised Leamington Parade

A survey conducted last summer has revealed ‘overwhelming support‘ for the pedestrianisation of the Parade in Leamington Spa. 

The new concept masterplan for Parade, by Transforming Leamington, has 12 key aims. 

These include the integration of trees, sustainable management of water, supporting cycle access, prioritising safety with good lighting, ensuring accessibility with seating, and exploring how to remove vehicular traffic from Parade. 

Throughout June and July, the Leamington Transformation Board conducted public engagement exercises to raise awareness and encourage feedback through a survey which received 3,133 responses.  

Based on the key findings, the survey showed general support for all 12 of these aims, with most respondents agreeing to every individual aim.  

I really support the plans to pedestrianise [the Parade], it would be lovely to see a cozier and ‘small town’ atmosphere

Survery respondent

When respondents were asked “to what extent do you agree or disagree with the new concept masterplan for Parade?”, 76.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed.  

According to the analysis report, the aim to “explore how to remove vehicular traffic from Parade (Hamilton Terrace to Clarendon Avenue)” is the most divided, with 65.7% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing, while 20.1% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 

An individual who works on the Parade agreed with the majority, stating: “I really support the plans to pedestrianise it, it would be lovely to see a cozier and ‘small town’ atmosphere.” 

Based on how the survey was conducted, it is difficult to ascertain how many University of Warwick students took part in the survey. 

[Pedestrianisation] would significantly affect my ability to get to and from university campus every day … if there were alternative bus routes or something put in place to help people that commute, this would sway my stance

University of Warwick student

However, in a profiling question asking respondents to “tell us who you are”, only 67 respondents claimed to be “a student in or near to Royal Leamington Spa”. 

Therefore, The Boar reached out to University of Warwick students to find out what they thought about pedestrianising the Parade. 

One third-year student, who is originally from Leamington Spa and commutes to University by bus, said: “The plan to pedestrianise the Parade is a bit of an inconvenience to those who live and work in, or near the Parade and to those people who use it as their quicker routes to work, school, or university. I think it’s more convenient the way it is.” 

Another student, who has lived in Leamington for two years, and currently drives to University from Leamington, felt similarly, commenting: “It would significantly affect my ability to get to and from university campus every day.” 

The student put forth the idea that “if there were alternative bus routes or something put in place to help people that commute, this would sway my stance”. 

A student, who lived in Leamington for their second year but moved for third year, partly due to the commute, said: “It would definitely be a more relaxed atmosphere as there wouldn’t be so much congestion.” 

“It would benefit the general energy of the town,” they added.