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Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/1) on the E4 (Section 8) Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge, seeking approval, subject to the granting of full planning consent, to construct a walking and cycling bridge over Summer Lane, Exeter, providing improvements to 100 metres of existing route, attached.

 

An Impact Assessment for the scheme is also attached.

Minutes:

(Councillors Hannaford, Ackland and Connett attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/1) on the E4 (Section 8) Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge, seeking approval, subject to the granting of full planning consent, to construct a walking and cycling bridge over Summer Lane, Exeter, providing improvements to 100 metres of existing route, 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 principle of a strategic cycle network for Exeter was endorsed by Cabinet on 8 June 2016 and it was also agreed that work should continue with the development of the Network, giving priority to E4 cycle route between Monkerton and the City Centre. 

 

The Report sought approval for Phase 3 (Section 8), an overview of the design being shown in Appendix 2A and 2B of the Report, which was predominantly an 18m span, 4.5m clear width bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over Summer Lane, with ramps on either side that would connect to the existing paths in Exhibition Fields and Bettys Mead Playing Fields. 

 

The ramps would have a maximum gradient of 1:20 to ensure they were not overly challenging for those less able to cycle and parents with pushchairs or people with physical disabilities and lighting columns would also be installed to the west and east of the ramps.

 

The proximity of the railway was a major constraint and the existing Western Power Distribution (WPD) compound would be relocated to the north of its existing location to accommodate the span of the bridge. Whilst three mature willow trees and one mature oak would need to be removed, the planting and landscape proposals included reinstatement of a hedge and provide for the planting of five silver birch trees to the south of the proposed bridge and a further four trees would be planted on the existing bank between the car park and cycleway as mitigation.

 

The overall construction cost of the proposal was estimated to be £1,305,000, with £871,398 of the funding from the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) that the Council was successful in securing for a package of improvements and match funded by £433,602 Section 106 contributions from the Brickworks development. 

 

The Head of Services Report included an Impact Assessment which had been circulated for the attention of Members at the meeting.

 

The proposals met equality requirements in numerous ways, for example, improved routes not just for cyclists but also other non-motorised users, wheelchair users or those with prams to have easier access across side roads, offered safer routes for young people, enabled disadvantaged groups to gain access to training and employment, improved access to help people better connect with their communities and helped to tackle health problems, such as those associated with obesity.

 

In the short term, during the construction works, it was anticipated that some negative economic impact would be realised as a result of traffic management and slower journey times, but this would be mitigated as far as possible by consulting with the Council’s highway coordination and traffic management groups. 

 

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, carbon 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 Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that approval, in principle, and subject to planning permission being granted, be given to the construction of an improved pedestrian/cycle route and a bridge over Summer Lane, as outlined in Appendices 2A and 2B, at an estimated cost of £1,305,000;

 

(b) that delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and relevant local Members, to make minor amendments to the scheme details and, to approve for construction once planning permission has been granted.

 

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  http://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/].

Supporting documents:


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