Issue - meetings

(See report at agenda item 4 (pages 1 to 64) of the Cabinet papers of 20 September 2016)

DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS

1)          That the overall conclusions of this report set out in paragraphs 5.27 to 5.29, providing qualified support for Option 2, based on the information published by Highways England at this stage, be agreed; and

2)          That the comments set out in Appendix 3 for submission as Chichester District Council’s formal response to the Highways England consultation on options for the A27 Chichester Bypass Improvement scheme, be approved.

Mr Dignum (Leader of the Council), seconded by Mr Finch, moved these recommendations from the Cabinet.

He advised that in July this year Highways England (HE) published its long awaited consultation document on the proposed A27 Chichester Bypass improvement scheme.  The consultation period was for a ten week period from 14 July until 22 September 2016 and contained five online options. Officers had analysed the proposals in detail having regard to the Council’s corporate priorities, assessing the potential benefits and disadvantages of each of the options. They had concluded that Option 2, based on the evidence provided to date, appeared to offer the best outcome in terms of reduced journey times both for east-west through traffic as well as for local traffic, particularly to and from the Manhood Peninsula,  together with the greatest improvement in journey time reliability and reduction in accidents.  However, support for Option 2 was qualified and it was recommended that HE were asked to consider a number of further measures at recommendation 3.

Only the five options that are the subject of the public consultation had been considered as these were the only options being proposed by HE. The Council was asked to support these recommendations for submission as the Council’s formal response to HE.

We should recognise that whichever option was ultimately selected would have disadvantages as well as benefits and would not please everyone. But it was essential that the current levels of congestion on the A27, with the resultant adverse effects on journey times and reliability, which in turn impedes development and quality of life, does not continue. It was important therefore that the opportunity was taken to comment on the available proposals in a constructive manner to ensure that improvements to the A27 could be progressed.

Mrs Apel made a statement on behalf of the Fishbourne residents, who were not represented at this meeting, stating that Option 2 would destroy the AONB and the economy. The construction would take time and damage communities. The residents recommended that all options be ruled out and that true transparency was provided by HE in explaining why the northern route was discounted.

Mr Barrow was inclined to support officers’ recommendations as Option 2 provided the best way forward for Chichester in getting traffic through and on and off the Manhood Peninsula smoothly, however he had grave concerns regarding the southern link road damaging communities, the environment and historic buildings. He claimed that the Southern Link Road would not be sustainable and could, in future, become a dual carriageway.  HE had not done a particularly good job as the two northern options had got into the public domain which had raised false hope for residents of the Manhood Peninsula. He was taken aback by the massive support in the south for a northern option and suggested that HE be encouraged to look at this again and to explain the reasons why the northern routes had been rejected.

Mr Ridd commented on the huge turnout of local residents,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 150

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its three appendices and to make the following recommendations to the Council namely that it:

(1)  Agrees the overall conclusions of this report set out in paragraphs 5.27 to 5.29, providing qualified support for Option 2, based on the information published by Highways England at this stage.

(2)  Approves the comments set out in Appendix 3 for submission as Chichester District Council’s formal response to the Highways England consultation on options for the A27 Chichester Bypass Improvement scheme.

[Note For ease of reference, the three appendices to this report are page numbered as follows:

·       Appendix 1 - CDC officer summary and analysis of A27 options: pages 16 to 30

·       Appendix 2 - Summary table showing positive and negative aspects of A27 options: pages 31 to 34

·       Appendix 3 - Formal CDC comments in response to the A27 options consultation: pages 35 to 64]

RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL

That the Council:

(1)  Agrees the overall conclusions of the report set out in paragraphs 5.27 to 5.29, providing qualified support for Option 2, based on the information published by Highways England at this stage.

(2)  Approves the comments set out in Appendix 3 (including the Annex) for submission as Chichester District Council’s formal response to the Highways England consultation on options for the A27 Chichester Bypass Improvement Scheme.

(3)  Advises Highways England that Chichester District Council is only minded to support Option 2 provided that Highways England gives serious consideration to the following:

i.                 Strategic improvements to the Portfield roundabout to increase east-west capacity, possibly including an eastbound flyover for cars and light vans only using the A27;

ii.                The provision of good access for traffic going from the B2145 to the east of Chichester without impeding through east-west traffic (possibly by a slip road from the Whyke Road  flyover down to the A27 or a right turn from the flyover down to the A27);

iii.              The reduction of the length of the Stockbridge Link Road, either to only a section from the A286 to the Fishbourne roundabout or to the two sections from the B2201 via the A286 to the Fishbourne roundabout;

iv.              The provision of safe, segregated crossings of the A27 for cyclists and pedestrians at the Bognor Road, Whyke Road and Stockbridge Road junctions;

v.               The installation of noise abatement screens on the flyovers;

vi.              The examination of the scope for lowering the roundabouts and flyovers at the Bognor Road and especially Fishbourne junctions;

vii.            The use of Highways England’s Designated Fund to finance the mitigation measures listed above.

(4)  Gives delegated authority to the Head of Planning Services to make any consequential amendments to Appendix 3 in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing.

[Note Mr Finch was not present for this agenda item]

The Cabinet considered the agenda report and its three appendices and also the report update sheet with a revised set of recommendations which had been circulated electronically and published online the previous Friday and was available in hard copy at this meeting (copies attached to the official minutes).

The report was presented by Mrs Taylor.

Mr Allgrove, Mr Davidson and Mr Frost were in attendance.

Mrs Taylor summarised the background to the Highways England consultation on the five published options (summarised in para 3.5 of the report), which would end on 22 September 2016 and the analysis undertaken by Chichester District Council (CDC) officers (section 5 of the report) which had led to the recommendations in para 2.1 of the report in favour of Option 2 albeit this was qualified by concerns regarding the potentially significant impacts on the landscape, natural and historic environment and on some residential areas. The officers’ overall conclusion regarding the options was set out in paras 5.27 to 5.30 of the report. It should be noted that the report did not address (in the absence of any supporting evidence) other possible options eg the formerly mooted northern route. She drew attention to the third appendix which contained CDC’s formal comments in response to the consultation. At its meeting on 15 September 2016 CDC’s Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel considered this matter and recommended some amendments to the recommendations in para 2.1 of the report. These were set out in red text in the report update sheet circulated at this meeting.

During the debate two Cabinet members commented as follows.

Mr Barrow said that it was clearly not advisable to favour no option. He commended officers for their work, particularly section 5 of the report. Whilst he was inclined to agree with the recommendation in favour of option 2 as being the most favourable option for Chichester and the local/through traffic flows, he did not consider that the option did a great deal for the Manhood Peninsula, having listened to the views of many local residents and parish councils, particularly with regard to the proposed Stockbridge Link Road.  He outlined the route which would be used by drivers travelling from the Manhood Peninsula using the Option 2 routes and highlighted traffic/road problems which he foresaw would be encountered. He questioned whether the mitigation measures would adequately address the environmental impacts of Option 2 on the AONB and expressed concern about the demolition of 20 properties. A northern route had not been included in the consultation but this was an option strongly supported by those who lived in the south of Chichester District. It would not be right to ignore such a high level of support for a northern route. It was very unfortunate that Highways England had excluded this as an option; its omission had dashed the hopes of many southern residents. Accordingly he felt unable to support the recommendations as currently framed. He advocated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 253