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Issue - meetings

Meeting: 08/06/2016 - Cabinet (Item 39)

39 Barnstaple, Roundswell Phase 2 A39 Pedestrian Cycle Bridge pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development & Waste(PTE/16/28) seeking scheme and estimate approval for a new cycle/pedestrian bridge, attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillors Biederman, Connett, Greenslade, Julian and Westlake attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment  (PTE/16/28) seeking scheme and estimate approval for a new cycle/pedestrian bridge over the A39 at Roundswell, Barnstaple.

 

The proposed scheme would not only improve safety upon and the capacity of the A39/A361 as part of a programme of planned infrastructure improvements but would also provide a safe and attractive link to support economic growth in the area, where land to the south west of the bridge had been allocated for employment purposes in the draft North Devon and Torridge Local Plan to 2031. 

 

The crossing had been specifically referred to within the Draft Joint North Devon & Torridge Local Plan Policy for BAR10 employment sites. That Plan had been subject to extensive local public consultation by the District Council between 2012 and 2015 as had the wider strategy for the A361/A39 corridor (A Gateway To Northern Devon) undertaken by the County Council in 2014. The proposed bridge, which had been widely welcomed, had also been subject to consultation through the current planning application which Members noted would now be amended slightly to take account of advice from North Devon District Council on landscaping, upon which a formal decision was expected shortly.

 

Members noted that the estimated cost of the scheme was £2,855,000 which would be funded through secured Growth Deal funding of £2,000,000, developer contributions of £250,000,  £17,000 carried over from pervious Local Transport Plan grant and £588,000 from the Growth Deal Infrastructure corporate match funding pot; the  scheme would be  subject to a design and build tender process.

 

The Head of Service’s Report also incorporated an Impact Assessment relating to the possible impacts of the proposal, which had been circulated previously for the attention of Members at this meeting in order that as part of its determination of the next steps in the process the Cabinet might have full regard to the responsibilities placed upon it to exercise its Public Sector Equality Duty, under s149 of the Equality Act 2010, where relevant.

 

The Assessment acknowledged that the provision of a cycle/walking bridge (which was part of  a wider strategy to improve the resilience of the M5-Bideford/Northam corridor to support tourism and economic development in the area)  would  reduce congestion and journey times for all types of user, reduce road traffic accidents and have a positive impact on public heath; providing improved access to employment, transport, education and to community facilities. 

 

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, environmental impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Hughes, and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that approval be given to the design and construction of the scheme shown in Appendix I to Report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39



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