Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/69) seeking approval for three Devon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP), attached.

The plans are attached as;

Appendix I – Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP

Appendix II - Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam LCWIP

Appendix III – Exeter LCWIP

Three Impact Assessments have been prepared for the attention of Members at the meeting, which are attached and also available at;

·       Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

RESOLVED

(a) that officers be asked to review the three Local Cycling Walking and Infrastructure plans at Appendices I, II, and III against the policy paper Plan for Drivers; and

(b) that the outcome of that review be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil, Dewhirst and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/69) which presented three Devon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The full plans were attached to the agenda as;

Appendix I – Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP

Appendix II - Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam LCWIP

Appendix III – Exeter LCWIP

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) were a strategic approach to identifying cycling and walking improvements at the local level. The framework was set out in the Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which formed an important part of Government’s strategy to increase the number of active travel trips. LCWIPs were also an important tool in realising the Government’s Gear Change vision which expected local authorities to deliver high quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure. LCWIPs were therefore an important aspect of making cases for future active travel funding, whether through external grants or in negotiations with developers.

The Council had completed three LCWIPs: Heart of Teignbridge (HoT), Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam (BBN), and Exeter which covered the three key urban areas identified in the existing Cycling and Multi-Use Trail Network Strategy and they sought to outline the future walking and cycling infrastructure priorities over the next 10 to 20 years.

The LCWIP’s set out walking and cycling proposals in the respective geographies, the schemes being considered the most strategically important, building upon existing established active travel networks and with greatest potential to attract developer funding.

The Cabinet noted that all three Plans had been endorsed by the relevant Highways and Traffic Orders Committees.

The Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP (Appendix I) set out walking and cycling proposals along five key corridors, strategically identified as missing gaps in existing plans for active travel intervention, being Newton Abbot Town Centre, Kingsteignton, Buckland and Milber, Wolborough and Kingskerswell and Torbay. There were additional proposals within the NA1 Houghton Barton and NA3 Wolborough strategic site allocations.

The BBN LCWIP (Appendix II) set out four walking and six cycling proposals in Barnstaple, Bideford, and Northam. A summary of the proposals was outlined in full but related to Alexandra Street (Barnstaple), Barbican Road and Queen Street (Barnstaple), Yelland to Barnstaple, Roundswell to Pilton (Barnstaple), Whiddon Valley to Barnstaple and Landkey to Barnstaple.

The core focus of the Exeter LCWIP (Appendix III) was within the administrative boundary of the city, setting out 20 cycling routes and 5 city-centre walking routes strategically identified as ‘missing gaps’ in the existing walking and cycling network. The cycling routes were E1 – Exeter St David’s Station to Topsham, E3 – City Centre to Cranbrook, E4 – Exeter University to Science Park, E5 – Stoke Hill to St Thomas, E6 – ‘Nurses Way’ Stoke Hill to Marsh Barton Station and Industrial Estate, E7 – Exeter St David’s Station to Exeter Quay, E8 – Wonford to Sowton Industrial Estate, E9 – Topsham/Newcourt to City Centre via Wonford and St Leonards, E10 – Pynes Hill Business Park to Sowton Industrial Estate and Exeter Business Park, E12 – Beacon Heath to Marsh Barton Station and Industrial Estate, E13 – Clyst St Mary to Topsham via Clyst Road, E14 – Marsh Barton Station to city centre via Water Lane development and Exeter Quay, E15 – South West Exeter development to Exe Bridges, E16 – South West Exeter development to River Exe via Alphington and St Thomas, E17 – Ide to Marsh Barton and Industrial Estate, E18 – Exwick Heights to Exeter St David’s Station, E19 – Cowley Bridges to Exeter St David’s Station, E20 – Exeter St David’s Station to South Street via Iron Bridge, E21 – Exeter St David’s Station to city centre via Queen Street and E22 – Newtown to Water Lane development via St Leonards.

The walking routes were W1 – Exeter Quay/Haven Banks to City Centre via South Street, W2 – Exe Bridges, Fore Street, High Street, Sidwell Street and St Annes Roundabout, W3 – Exeter St David’s to City Centre via Queen Street, W4 – Barnfield Road to Princesshay and W5 – New North Road and Longbrook Street to Paris Street.

Details of all the consultations (public, stakeholder engagement, questionnaires, webinar events, online etc) and outcomes were detailed in full at section 5 of the Report.

The LCWIP documents aligned with the vision and priorities set out in Devon County Council’s Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 in a number of ways, for example, responding to the climate emergency, being ambitious for children and young people, supporting sustainable economic recovery, tackling poverty and inequality, improving health and wellbeing and helping communities be safe, connected and resilient.

Cabinet noted that the approval of an LCWIP did not result in any financial commitment but development of the pipeline of active travel schemes would continue to use Local Transport Plan funding. Future commitment of funding towards development or delivery of active travel schemes would require further approvals (e.g. transport capital programme or scheme specific reports).

Impact Assessments had been prepared for each which had been circulated separately to Cabinet Members and was available on the Council’s website,

·       Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP Impact Assessment: Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Barnstaple, Bideford and Northam LCWIP Impact Assessment: Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

·       Exeter LCWIP Impact Assessment: Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

The Impact Assessments highlighted that, overall, the LCWIPs would benefit all residents by improving walking and cycling links to employment, education and services. The proposed infrastructure would cater for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages, abilities, and confidence levels. It could also enable certain individuals to travel independently by removing transport-related barriers to key destinations.

In summary, the LCWIPs were ambitious plans for transformative walking and cycling interventions in Devon, which aligned with several of the Strategic Plan priorities. It would enable the Council to be in a strong strategic position to secure future funding and ensured it delivered active travel schemes in locations that delivered maximum impact.

However, publication of the recent Government ‘Plan for Drivers’ policy paper meant this could have implications for the schemes and proposals of the LCWIP’s, therefore it was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that officers be asked to review the three Local Cycling Walking and Infrastructure plans at Appendices I, II, and III against the policy paper Plan for Drivers; and

(b) that the outcome of that review be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.