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Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/20) regarding the A361 North Devon Link Road seeking various approvals in relation to Pedestrian Cycle Crossings at Bishops Tawton and Landkey and Advance Planting Works, attached.

 

An Impact Assessment is also attached for the attention of Members at this meeting.

Minutes:

(Councillors Edgell, Hannaford, Whitton and Yabsley 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/19/20) seeking various approvals in relation to Pedestrian Cycle Crossings at Bishops Tawton and Landkey and Advance Planting Works (North Devon Link Road), 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 Report followed the Cabinet Report of 11 July 2018 regarding the A361/A39 North Devon Link Road (NDLR) project.  Since then, planning permission for the main works had been granted and the objection period for compulsory purchase order for land had now passed without objection. 

 

The next major milestone was tendering and the appointment of a contractor which represented a significant achievement for the main scheme.  However, to remain on programme some advance planting needed to be undertaken in 2019; to achieve a 12-month establishment period prior to the start of works in November 2020.

 

In addition, further consultation had been undertaken regarding provision of two further segregated pedestrian cycle facilities at both Bishop’s Tawton junction and at Landkey junction in addition to the main scheme and a preferred option for a facility at each location had been reached.

 

The Report then outlined each of the proposals in detail. In relation to the Advanced Planting Contract, a tender process had been undertaken and a preferred contractor identified.  The total cost of the works was estimated to £500k which was in line with the overall scheme cost estimates previously produced.  The Cabinet noted that advance works such as these had to be funded by the Council from its capital fund. 

 

The Segregated Pedestrian & Cycling Facility at Bishop’s Tawton Roundabout proposals were consulted upon between 12 October 2018 and 23 November 2018.  The report could be found at https://www.devon.gov.uk/ndlr/project-documents. The responses provided valuable insight to the impact of the proposals and several suggestions for improvements to the design. The recommendation for an underpass placed to the west of the roundabout remained the preferred option with designs for the recommended underpass option and an indicative design of the rejected overbridge option were shown as an Appendix to the Report. The Report also explained the additional recommendations as part of the scheme. A final layout with a 3D flythrough was available on the scheme website (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h26YXYamTA&feature=youtu.be). Residents had suggested that a planning application for the scheme should be submitted giving stakeholders further opportunity to comment, particularly on any environmental impacts associated with the scheme. 

 

With regard to the segregated Pedestrian & Cycling Facility at Landkey Junction, suggestions raised by Landkey Parish Council were reviewed and it was subsequently agreed that a segregated crossing here would be in-line with the Council’s ambition to segregate, where possible, all pedestrian movements from the live carriageway for safety reasons.

 

The Report outlined the programme of works. With the advanced planting, this was planned to commence in Autumn 2019, continuing over the winter planting season. A planning application for the Bishop’s Tawton scheme would be submitted in summer 2019, with a plan to begin procurement in winter 2019 with construction likely to begin in 2021. The planning application for the Landkey scheme would be submitted in 2019.

 

Funding for the proposed improvements was through the Department for Transport Local Majors funding package for the North Devon Link Road of £93 million (including £10 million of local contributions).  The Full Business Case would be submitted in August 2020, with the advance planting and proposals at Bishop’s Tawton and Landkey forming part of the scheme.

 

It was recognised that the underpass and overbridge would have some localised negative impact on existing vegetation and landscape, but this would be mitigated as far as possible with new planting, specific ecological mitigation measures and high-quality landscaping (to be developed as part of the planning application).  Any outstanding negative impacts were offset by the safety benefits of the proposals.

 

The Head of Service’s report included an Impact Assessment which had been circulated separately to Cabinet Members for their attention at this meeting (also available at https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/north-devon-link-road/). The main scheme would affect everyone travelling along the NDLR between Bideford and South Molton and all users of the

side roads adjoining the NDLR. It would also affect local residents directly affected by land acquisition and those indirectly affected by visual impact and noise. Given the nature of the scheme, it would have no impact on the diversity profile of affected people. Consideration had

been given to non-motorised users, rather than focussing on vehicles alone and the adequacy of current proposals had been tested through public consultation, the results of which influenced the selection of the scheme and changes to the detailed design of the scheme. Therefore, no unimaginable consequences had been identified. National guidance and procedures had been followed to carefully define and assess a wide range of environmental risks, which guided the scheme development and assessment and included the identification of avoidance, mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures and any monitoring requirements.

 

The Report also highlighted that in terms of risk management, all necessary safeguards had been taken/included to safeguard the Council's position with relevant mitigation measures for each risk identified. 

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that the appointment of a contractor to undertake advance planting and associated works to an estimated value of £500k from the County Council’s capital budget be approved;

 

(b) that a pedestrian and cyclist underpass at Bishop’s Tawton Junction be progressed through to planning application, land acquisition and tender;

 

(c) that a pedestrian and cyclist bridge at Landkey Junction also be progressed through to planning application, land acquisition and tender; and

 

(d) that delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Development and Waste and relevant local Member(s), to make minor amendments to the scheme details and to progress towards a Full Business Case.

 

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/north-devon-link-road/].

 

 

Supporting documents:


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