SUCCESSFUL traffic management schemes from three major tourist cities and how their principles can be applied to Stratford's roads will be discussed at a pioneering conference this autumn.

The Stratford Society is holding a "listen and learn" conference on traffic management in historic towns with representatives from York, Chichester and Oxford, which it is hoped will provide guidance to Stratford planners on pedestrianisation, park and ride schemes and other major traffic issues.

However secretary of the society's transport group, Beryl Downing, has warned that the event will not be a soap box for those with axes to grind, but rather an exercise in learning which will help towns facing similar problems find some common ground.

The idea came from Mrs Downing, who invited Peter Brown of the Yorkshire Civic Trust, Brian Horsley of the Chichester Society and Moyra Haynes, former secretary of the Oxford Preservation Trust to Stratford's Shakespeare Centre in October.

The three will be invited to share their experiences with the audience and other guests at the invitation-only event, which will feature society members alongside representatives from local government, residents groups, businesses and young people.

"We are hoping to find things in common with these historic towns, which could help us in the long run," said Mrs Downing. "If there are problems in common, we could end up linking together and provide a united voice and the Government is more likely to listen if we all sing from the same song sheet."

Mrs Downing said the society did not currently have an opinion on park and ride or pedestrian priority schemes, but was hoping to be able to make a judgement after the conference.

"We need to get opinions and find out what other town's experiences are before we make decisions," she said.