Agenda item

Having complied with the Motions Procedure as set out in the council’s Constitution the motion attached will be proposed by Cllr Page and if duly seconded it will then be discussed at this meeting.

Cllr Page proposed his motion. Cllr Bell seconded.

 

Cllr Page outlined as follows:

 

The Local Plan Review's Transport Policies are limited only to mitigate that plan's effect on the A27 at Chichester, in other words to make things no worse. It promises no improvement. Inevitably therefore there will be increasing pressure from new development in Chichester and adjacent Districts and Boroughs. Road transport (however it is powered) will remain necessary for economic and social purposes.

 

As a result:

 

1. The already unacceptable levels of congestion and safety issues on the A27 Chichester by-pass will continue to worsen, with all the environmental, social and economic harm that entails.

 

2. The District's local highway network will see increasing amounts of traffic along mainly minor roads and through the City seeking to avoid the congested A27 by-pass junctions and lengthening queues on to those junctions.

 

3. Local Plan A27 by-pass junction mitigation works themselves will result in enormous disruption and inconvenience over a number of years and have very limited benefit before further works are required.

 

Recommendation:

 

Given the above, this Council,

 

a. is convinced that only a by-pass that separates local traffic from through traffic will provide a cost effective and comprehensive long term solution for the strategic road network at Chichester, and

 

b. that only such a by-pass will allow sufficient existing local highway network road space to be reallocated for walking, cycling and bus infrastructure to make a significant change in local residents' travel choices.

 

As the Council's preferred solution to this problem is a mitigated northern route as proposed by the BABA27 study, and noting that Highways England have announced that the A27 is among the list of projects to be developed for possible future funding with public participation,  this Council calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that all options, including a northern route, will be the subject of earliest possible consideration by Highways England to resolve the chronic traffic problems of Chichester once and for all, and invites the support of Chichester's MP and WSCC.

 

Cllr Taylor as portfolio holder was invited to speak next. She responded as follows:

 

Thank you Councillor Page for your motion.

 

Can I say firstly that the Council has long sought a scheme of government funded improvements to the A27 at Chichester in order to address issues of capacity, congestion, journey reliability and environmental issues such as air quality. The A27 corridor is a key foundation for our efforts to deliver housing and economic growth in this part of West Sussex but if no improvements are forthcoming for the A27 at Chichester, then it is clear that severe congestion will continue to occur. This will constrain the performance of the local economy and delivery of the Government’s objectives to deliver economic growth and housing. A well designed improvement at Chichester is needed that provides long term benefits and also addresses local concerns.

 

Following the cancellation by the Secretary of State for Transport of the A27 Chichester Bypass scheme within Road Investment Strategy 1 (RIS1) in 2017 due to a lack of local consensus, I’m sure many members will recall the BABA27 initiative which this Council actively supported and which resulted in two conceptual options prepared by consultants Systra being considered by this Council in June 2018. At that meeting, the Council resolved that in promoting a scheme to the government for inclusion in RIS2 our preference was for the ‘Mitigated Northern Route’ to be developed by Highways England with the ‘Full Southern Route’ as an alternative.

 

We were regrettably subsequently advised by Highways England that neither scheme was workable or affordable and so would not be taken forward within RIS2 although Chichester was included as a RIS3 Pipeline scheme meaning that funding was allocated for feasibility work and development of options. I understand that Highways England have now begun the Pipeline project and will assess the feasibility and viability of all potential options, including northern route options and that they intend to engage with stakeholders this Autumn.

 

Whilst this is positive news and Highways England have on many occasions indicated that they consider Chichester to be a priority, they have also made it clear that there is no guarantee of funding for a scheme within RIS3. We do nevertheless have a clear opportunity through this process to press our case for inclusion of a scheme for Chichester within RIS3.

 

I therefore support this motion that we do all we can as a Council to lobby the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that all options, including a northern route, are fully considered by Highways England and agree that we should seek the support of our MP’s and WSCC in this process.

 

Cllr Palmer then spoke in opposition of a northern route. He explained that he agreed with all but the last paragraph of the motion.

 

Cllr Duncton supported the motion. She explained that it encouraged all options to be considered.

 

Cllr Bowden supported the motion. He asked members to consider the economy when evaluating the best route.

 

Cllr O’Kelly spoke about the levels of the congestion on the A27 and the A272 and explained that the traffic often deters cyclists and walkers.

 

Cllr Potter explained that he could not support the motion whilst it included a northern bypass option.

 

Cllr Oakley asked members to consider all options and all evidence.

 

Cllr Plowman explained that he supported all but the final paragraph of the motion. He requested the opportunity to propose an amendment. The Chair used her discretion and decided in line with the Motions Procedure as set out in the Constitution that the amendment would be too significant to take at the meeting.

 

Cllr Brown spoke in favour of a northern route being the most environmental route.

 

Cllr Bangert and Cllr Moss both gave their support to the motion.

 

Cllr Sharp asked members to provide a full consultation for residents. She then spoke about making bus journeys, cycling and walking more convenient ways to travel.

 

Cllr Barrett explained that the Manhood Peninsula Forum fully supported the motion.

 

Cllr Tim Johnson asked members to consider every route. He proposed a minor amendment to add an ‘s’ to the end of motion to read ‘northern routes’ plural.

 

Cllr Page was then invited to sum up his motion and agreed to the inclusion of the additional ‘s’ as proposed by Cllr Tim Johnson.

 

Cllr Bell requested a recorded vote which was supported by members.

 

The recorded vote was as follows:

 

Cllr Apel – For

Cllr Bangert – For

Cllr Barrett – For

Cllr Barrie – Absent

Cllr Bell – For

Cllr Bowden – For

Cllr Brisbane – For

Cllr Briscoe – For

Cllr Brown – For

Cllr Dignum – For

Cllr Duncton – For

Cllr Elliott – For

Cllr Evans – For

Cllr Fowler – For

Cllr Graves – For

Cllr Hamilton – For

Cllr Hobbs – For

Cllr Donna Johnson – For

Cllr Tim Johnson – For

Cllr Lintill – Absent

Cllr Lishman – Absent

Cllr McAra – For

Cllr Moss – For

Cllr Oakley – For

Cllr O’Kelly – For

Cllr Palmer – Against

Cllr Page – For

Cllr Plant – Abstain

Cllr Plowman – Against

Cllr Potter – Abstain

Cllr Purnell – For

Cllr Rodgers – For

Cllr Sharp – Abstain

Cllr Sutton – Absent

Cllr Taylor – For

Cllr Wilding – Abstain

 

For = 26

Against = 3

Abstain = 3

Absent = 4

 

The following motion was therefore carried:

 

This Council,

 

a. is convinced that only a by-pass that separates local traffic from through traffic will provide a cost effective and comprehensive long term solution for the strategic road network at Chichester, and

 

b. that only such a by-pass will allow sufficient existing local highway network road space to be reallocated for walking, cycling and bus infrastructure to make a significant change in local residents' travel choices.

 

As the Council's preferred solution to this problem is a mitigated northern route as proposed by the BABA27 study, and noting that Highways England have announced that the A27 is among the list of projects to be developed for possible future funding with public participation,  this Council calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that all options, including northern routes, will be the subject of earliest possible consideration by Highways England to resolve the chronic traffic problems of Chichester once and for all, and invites the support of Chichester's MP and WSCC.