Agenda and minutes

(NB: In accordance with the Council’s Constitution the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee must be a County Councillor.  County Councillors only may vote).

RESOLVED: that Councillors Gribble and Peart be elected Chair and Vice-Chair for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2018 attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2018 be signed as a correct record.

David Lovel, Network Rail Programme Manager IP Western & Wales to update the Committee on developments since March.                                     

The Committee received a presentation from Mr David Lovell, Network Rail Programme Manager IP Western & Wales to update the Committee on developments since the last presentation in March 2018. 

The 3 key packages of resilience work were explained, these had the final design completion due as follows, which would be presented to the local community and local stakeholders:-

1  Parsons Tunnel North Portal – March/April 2019;

2  Marine Parade – January 2019;  and

3  Parsons Tunnel to Teignmouth – June 2019.

Department of Transport approval had now been given for:-

- further development of the 4 Central Tunnels to include rockfall shelters, rock anchoring and netting, with the specification now being formulated for the contract to be awarded in the new year 2019;

- the Colonnade to coastguards stretch and the underwall to Dawlish station, which would be a similar design to Marine Parade.  There would be a continual programme from Marine Parade to Dawlish Station until work was completed.

Contractors would also be on site this winter for heavy repairs to the 4 breakwaters and to look at renewing groins to retain beach material and for rock netting.  This work was to add resilience but was not the major works.  

Discussion and points of concern raised by Members included:-

- Acknowledgement of the very real problem of the line continuing to close (eg twice last week and in Storm Emma 2018), with its effect on local communities and the £millions lost to the South West economy as a whole.  This had to be addressed and Network Rail was committed to this.  Finance was to come from central government and it was expected to be a high government priority within the next financial year;

- Cross Country trains were currently susceptible to large sea spray thus backing trains up at Newton Abbot, but new design trains and the deflective wave project design would resolve this.

- local Councillors felt frustration at the apparent slow progress since the severe storms of 2014 and the continuing effect on communities;

- the severe weather already experienced this winter and worsening weather was an indication of climate change;

- that remedial works were costly and not value for money;

- Members welcomed the recent inclusion of groins works which would also help improve the situation for Holcombe;

- Network Rail confirmed design proposals for Teignmouth being worked upon to retain a sea walkway which would be very similar to that for Dawlish and Marine Parade; and

- that the 2014 damage came with no advance warning and a further serious cliff fall could not be ruled out.  However Network Rail had increased its walk the line inspections particularly in winter and was constantly inspecting the top and toe of the cliffs, the railway and sea wall.  The water levels of the underground streams were not specifically measured but observed during the line inspections.

RESOLVED:  that Network Rail be thanked for the update and be invited to a future meeting as developments progressed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The Council/Cabinet Forward Plan and the Scrutiny Work Programme are available for inspection by using the links below, in the event that the Committee may wish to provide evidence to specific Task Groups or otherwise comment upon specific areas of activity to the appropriate Scrutiny  Committee or the Cabinet.

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgPlansHome.aspx?bcr=1

The Committee noted the Council/Cabinet Forward Plan and the Scrutiny Work Programme were available for inspection by using the links below, in the event that the Committee may wished to provide evidence to specific Task Groups or otherwise comment upon specific areas of activity to the appropriate Scrutiny  Committee or the Cabinet.

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgPlansHome.aspx?bcr=1

To be held at Forde House, Newton Abbot:

Thursday 28 February 2018

Thursday 4 July 2018

Thursday 14 November 2019

Thursday 5 March 2020.

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings:

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

All meetings to be held at Teignbridge District Council, Forde House, Newton Abbot.

Thursday 28 February 2019

Thursday 4 July 2019

Thursday 14 November 2019

Thursday 5 March 2020.

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings;

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1