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Agenda and minutes

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Items
Note No. Item

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86.

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2020, (previously circulated).

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2020 be signed as a correct record.

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87.

Matters of Urgency: (a) Raised Pavement, Rock Pilton and (b) Old Torrington Road, Barnstaple

Item which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

Minutes:

(Items taken under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972)

 

(Councillor Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to these items)

 

The Chair had decided that the Committee should consider the following due to concerns raised by the local Member.

 

(a) Raised Pavement area at the Rock Pilton, Barnstaple

 

Councillor Greenslade reported the concerns of a local resident about the raised pavement. Its ownership or adoption as public highway was uncertain. The appropriate officers would meet with the local Member and resident to discuss the matter. 

 

(b) Old Torrington Road

 

(Councillor A Davis declared a personal interest in this matter due to being a member of the Joint Crematorium Committee)

                                                                                                                        

The local Members reported on questions as follows:

 

(i) When were pavement and Street Lighting works to be carried out beyond the North Devon Crematorium on Old Torrington Road? It was members’ views that these works were long delayed and there were safety concerns.

 

(ii) Can it be confirmed that the developer has control of the land required to be able to provide the new access Junction from the major Larkbeare Development on to the A361? It was some Members’ view that the developer  needs this as a condition of their Planning Permission as the only alternative access for these 820 homes was onto Old Torrington Road and asked when would this new junction be installed?

 

(iii) What was the position on the proposed moving of the Bus Gate. This was  supposed to include Public Consultation via the Traffic Order process?

With the New Lidl Store being built opposite the entrance to Sainsburys on Gratton Way there would also be more traffic movement on this route.

 

Councillor A Davies in her capacity as the Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Development and Waste reported that officers would convene a meeting of County and District Council members (and including District Council officers) to discuss enforcement and other issues as outlined above.   

 

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88.

North Devon Link Road Improvements: Update (Minute *65)

Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment to report

 

 

Minutes:

(Councillor B Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item)

 

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment reported on the latest developments.

 

Phase 1 of the North Devon Link Road (NDLR) scheme Full Business Case had been submitted to the DfT for final stage approval in August 2020. This had included widening of the section between South Molton and Barnstaple to 3 lanes as well as junction improvements to:

·         Borner’s Bridge – upgrade to roundabout

·         Hacche Lane – ban right turns

·         West Buckland – convert to a grade separated junction

·         Landkey – upgrade to a roundabout

·         Bishop’s Tawton – Upgrade existing roundabout

·         Westleigh – additional lane at signals

·         Heywood Junction – upgrade existing roundabout

·         Buckleigh Road – convert to signalised junction

On 10th November 2020 the DfT had announced £60.36m towards the £67.62m scheme with the additional funding coming from local contributions (S106 from developers and DCC Capital).

 

More details of the announcement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-gives-60-million-seal-of-approval-for-north-devon-link-road

 

In regard to the Programme,  Alun Griffiths had been chosen as the preferred contractors following a competitive tender process and would begin detailed design, with the main construction work due to start in the new year.

 

Traffic Regulation Orders would be issued shortly to enable construction work to proceed safely. A summary of these was available here: https://www.devon.gov.uk/ndlr/archives/393

 

More details were available on the scheme website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/ndlr/

 

Members expressed their gratitude to the Head of Service and his Officers for the good progress made to date.  

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89.

Potential Government Funding for the Missing Link between Knowle and Willingcott and Proposals for Barnstaple: Update (Minute *84).

Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment to report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment reported on the £2 billion commitment by government for cycling and walking investment over the next five years nationally. The 2020 Spending Review (announced the previous week) had identified £257 million for cycling and walking in 2021-22. This was less than anticipated but offered new opportunities for external funding support within Devon.

 

However, to be in a position to take advantage of external funding sources and deliver the full Knowle to Willingcott link, it was vital that the remaining land was assembled. Work had been progressing this year with funding through the Local Transport Plan Programme to secure the remaining land parcels. It was anticipated that two of the four remaining land parcels would be completed this financial year. A third agreement was currently subject to redesign and amendment before completion hopefully in 2021. And following recent positive contact from the landowner of the fourth and final land parcel, negotiations would be recommencing soon. 

 

Members noted the progress to date.

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90.

Emergency Active Travel Fund Plans for Barnstaple

Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment to report.

 

Minutes:

(Councillor B Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item)

 

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment reported that the Department for Transport had confirmed that Devon would receive £1,283,450 from the second tranche of the scheme to create safe space for walking and cycling in Exeter, Barnstaple and Newton Abbot.

 

The amount was 95% of that bid for and would be used along with developer contributions to deliver a new pedestrian and cyclist crossing on Station Road, Barnstaple and to complete the Anchorwood Bank cycle link with the Tarka Trail.

 

Schemes would require a positive outcome from public consultation by March 2021 and aimed to be built soon after.

 

Members expressed their support for both schemes.

 

Councillor Greenslade expressed his concern for access by disabled people to the Town Centre and the need to restore parking bays and this should be explored as part of the above proposals.

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91.

North Devon Cycling Forum Report pdf icon PDF 146 KB

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Greenslade has requested that the Committee consider this matter

 

At the Barnstaple Town Council Planning & Transportation Committee on Thursday 12th November a motion was passed for the North Devon Cycling Forum Report to be referred to HATOC for consideration.

 

The report is attached and the committee asked that the following be highlighted:

 

·         the report is backed up by the July 2020 Dept of Transport Gear Change: a bold vision for cycling & walking report.

·         The North Devon Cycling Forum Report identified that although there are cycle routes in the town they do not link up across the town and particularly residential areas into the town centre.

·         There needs to be more segregation of motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, better signage and more bike racks.

·         The report makes recommendations for the Long Bridge that includes a shared spaces proposal.

·         the report recommends more 20mph zones in the town.

·         greater consideration should be given for users of mobility scooters, particularly at crossing points.  There is lack of dropped kerbs in the town and where they are installed several of them still have a step, at the kerb, making it difficult for small wheeled scooters to cross.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor B Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item)

 

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Greenslade had asked that the Committee consider this matter and attended under Standing Order 25 to speak).

 

(In accordance with Standing Order 25 Councillors R Knight and C Leaver spoke to this item and E Vanderhoorst and S Pitcher spoke to this item with the consent of the Committee).

 

At the Barnstaple Town Council Planning and Transportation Committee on Thursday 12th November a motion had been passed for the North Devon Cycling Forum Report to be referred to this Committee for consideration.

 

The report was attached and the Town Council had asked that the following be highlighted:

 

·         The report is backed up by the July 2020 Dept of Transport Gear Change: a bold vision for cycling & walking report.

·         The North Devon Cycling Forum Report identified that although there are cycle routes in the town they do not link up across the town and particularly residential areas into the town centre.

·         There needs to be more segregation of motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, better signage and more bike racks.

·         The report makes recommendations for the Long Bridge that includes a shared spaces proposal.

·         the report recommends more 20mph zones in the town.

·         greater consideration should be given for users of mobility scooters, particularly at crossing points.  There is lack of dropped kerbs in the town and where they are installed several of them still have a step, at the kerb, making it difficult for small wheeled scooters to cross.

 

Members referred to the need for secure parking and storage provision for cycles and to opening new rail routes too.

 

Members also referred to the Active Travel Group for North Devon of which Councillor A Davis was a Member and which could also consider these proposals with input from the local County, District and Town Council Members and Officers.

 

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment would also provide a Report to the next meeting of this Committee in reference to the Cycle Forum Report proposals with particular attention to the points raised by the Town Council.  

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92.

Actions Taken Under Delegated Powers pdf icon PDF 10 KB

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/20/55), attached

 

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways Infrastructure, Development and Waste (HIW/20/55) on delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

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93.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was changed from 2 March to Wednesday, 3 March 2021 at 10.30am (Virtual Meeting).


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