Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chair and Vice  Chair must be County Councillors.

Councillors J Yabsley and C Leaver were both nominated for the position of Chair and the subsequent Vote was declared Tied.  

The meeting was adjourned, reconvened shortly afterwards and it was then

RESOLVED that Councillor J Yabsley be elected Chair and Councillor C Leaver be elected Vice Chair for the ensuing municipal year.    

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2022 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2021 be signed as a correct record.

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

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

The Chair had decided that the Committee should consider the following as a matter of urgency to apprise the Committee of the current position.

The Local North Devon District Councillor (Roundswell Ward) reported on the need to further review the primary access arrangements in regard to the Larkbear residential development and available options.

The Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport confirmed that the matter was being looked at and that a meeting could be held to update relevant Councillors and that relevant reports on the strategic position would be made to this Committee in due course.  

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/13), attached

(Councillor A Davis declared a prejudicial interest by virtue of being a Member of the Joint Crematorium Committee, which would be affected by the proposals, and left the meeting for the duration of this item).

(Councillor G Lofthouse [North Devon District Council] attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke in favour of a bus gate to prohibit all vehicular access).

(Joy Bowden, Michael Pagram, Stephen Pitcher (Northern Devon Cycling Campaign); and Robert Wright attended under the Public Participation Scheme and spoke requesting that the Bus Gate be installed in Old Torrington Road to prohibit all vehicular access in accordance with the decision made by this Committee at its meeting on 7 July 2021). 

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/13) on the proposed relocation of bus gate on Gratton Way to Old Torrington Road in order to better manage traffic in the area as part of new housing developments.

At the Committee meeting on 7th July 2021 it had been resolved to implement the bus gate and waiting restrictions on Old Torrington Road subject to further consideration by this Committee on the proposed operating times of the new bus gate. This discussion took place at the meeting of the Committee on 21 November 2021 where it had been resolved to introduce the bus gate at all times for northbound traffic only, with an exemption for motorcycles.  However, following legal advice, this modification required further public consultation.  The Report detailed the results of the consultation so that the comments could be considered before a final decision was made.

The Traffic Orders would revoke the Gratton Way Bus Gate and introduce a new Bus Gate on Old Torrington Road, to the north of the junction with Gratton Way.

Consultation had been carried out from 1 to 14 June 2022 and a total of 118 responses had been received and only 11 indicated support for the modification with 107 opposed.

Members’ comments and discussion points with the Officers included:

·         the latest consultation response; and safety issues for pedestrians and cyclists with the current level of traffic in Old Torrington Road;

·         the differing opinions of communities from north and south of the proposed bus gate as reflected in previous deliberations by this Committee and past consultation responses;    

·         the reasonable endeavours by this Committee to comply with the local planning authority’s planning permission (in relation to the residential development) in regard to the proposed bus gate in Old Torrington Lane and Traffic Order for which the County Council was responsible as the Highways Authority; and

·         a proposal by a Member to re-affirm the decision of this Committee made at the last meeting in November 2021.

It was MOVED by Councillor C Leaver, and SECONDED by Councillor D Knight and

RESOLVED 

(a) that the responses to the consultation be noted; and

(b) that the Traffic Regulation Orders for the proposals in Old Torrington Road be made and sealed as originally advertised. 

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/9), attached

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/9) on the statutory consultation on the

restrictions proposed in the North Devon area, as part of the local waiting restrictions programme.

The proposals had been advertised from 19 May until 13 June 2022 and  summarised in Appendix 1 and 2 of the Report. The respective local member commented on each proposal (or where the Member was not present the proposal was deferred). 

It was MOVED by Councillor J Yabsley and SECONDED by Councillor C Leaver and 

RESOLVED

(a) that the work on the local waiting restriction programme be noted; and

(b) that the recommendations contained in Appendix 2 to the Report be agreed subject to: 

(i) Cyprus Terrace, Barnstaple: authority be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor;

(ii) Ashleigh Crescent, Barnstaple: authority be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor;

(iii) Station Road, Ilfracombe: authority be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor;

(iv) Bickington Road, Bickington: authority be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor; and

(v) The Quay, Ilfracombe: that the proposals relating to the east end be approved with authority to agree the details be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor; and that the proposals at the west end be deferred pending further review by Officers.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/10), attached

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/10) on the proposed introduction of a zebra crossing facility on the B3137 Fore Street, Witheridge. The scheme required moving the existing uncontrolled crossing location, to another point on Fore Street; and two new bus shelters were proposed. These works were  outlined on the included drawings (Plan 21016/03 in Appendix 1 of the Report).

It was MOVED by Councillor J Yabsley, SECONDED by Councillor D Knight and

RESOLVED

:

(a) that the proposed zebra crossing and bus shelters shown on the plan

21016/03 be approved for construction at an estimated cost of £77,380;

and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport be given

delegated powers, in consultation with the Chair and the local

County Councillor, to make minor amendments to the scheme details.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport

(CET/22/11), attached

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport CET/22/11) on a proposal to construct a section of the Tarka Trail in North Devon, between Willingcott and Buttercombe Lane. This would enable 0.6 km of the missing 6.4 km gap between Knowle and Willingcott to be completed and connecting the major North Devon towns of Ilfracombe and Barnstaple.

The Tarka Trail connecting Willingcott to Knowle was one of Devon’s top priorities as it would go towards completing the Coast to Coast cycle network between Ilfracombe and Plymouth. The County Council was working hard to progress this link as quickly as possible, however delivery of rural trails had been constrained by the limited external funding available. Following an   unsuccessful bid to the Active Travel Fund the County Council would continue to make progress with Local Transport Plan funds and deliver the remaining sections incrementally over the years when funding became available.

It was MOVED by Councillor A Davis, SECONDED by Councillor D Spear and

RESOLVED 

(a) that subject to a final detailed design and stage two Road Safety Audit, the proposed multiuse path on plans 10310/08 and 10310/09 in Appendix 2 be  approved for construction at an estimated cost of £220,000; and

(b) that powers be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor to make minor amendments to the scheme as required.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/12), attached

At the request of the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/12) was deferred pending further discussions between Officers and the local County Councillor and Cabinet Member.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/14), attached

The Committee noted the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/14) on delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

16 November 2022 and 8 February 2023 (venue to be confirmed)

Up to date information on dates here: Browse meetings - North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee - Democracy in Devon

16 November 2022 and 30 January 2023 (not 8 February as previously indicated).

[N.B. Confirmation of dates of meetings available at: Browse meetings - North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee - Democracy in Devon]