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Agenda item

Co-opted Members to provide updates and feedback from their organisations.

 

Notice has been given that a presentation from Highways England on the A303 Corridor will be given. [Presenters scheduled to join at 11:15]

Minutes:

The Board received verbal Reports from the Co-opted Members on matters of interest arising from their respective organisations.

 

Highways England reported that the Strategic Business Plan and Delivery Plan were published in August 2020. These documents set out how the Government’s Road Investment Strategy (RIS) will be delivered over the next 5 years. Following the £15.2bn investment of the first RIS, the £27.4bn investment plan for RIS2 represents a significant increase and demonstrates Government’s commitment to rebuilding the economy.

 

The Board received a presentation from Highways England providing an update on ‘Unlocking Economic Growth on the A303/A358/A30 Corridor’. The Board heard that the A303 / A358 corridor and the A30 in Cornwall are key priorities that are currently identified in the Road Investment Strategy and there is an aim to get the current schemes through the planning process and starting construction during this roads period. The Board heard an update on the progress of the schemes and expressed their support of the whole corridor upgrade, including the A30 through the Blackdown Hills.

 

The Board emphasised the importance of this whole route approach to ensure the South West Peninsula has two strategic road corridors connecting to the rest of the country. It was agreed that the Board would respond to the DCO consultations as well as issuing a letter detailing the importance of a whole route corridor approach between London and Cornwall.

 

The Department for Transport advised that regular COVID-19 related updates have been provided to the key Local Authority contacts and that the current focus is on the school return. In addition, an ‘acceleration unit’ has been announced by the Secretary of State to bring forward road and rail upgrades. However, the scope of the unit has not yet been confirmed. There is also a consultation currently live on proposals to ban antisocial parking.

 

The Board sought clarification regarding the announcement of allocations for the Emergency Active Travel Fund Tranche 2 and also sought Department for Transport support for the Tamar Crossings. The Board were pleased to receive the offer of STB funding for the current financial year and reiterated their appreciation to the Department for Transport.

 

Network Rail provided an update on the Restoring Your Railway Fund with announcements due on the second round of the Ideas Fund soon. It was also reported that the first section of Dawlish promenade is now open, Intercity House works have started in Plymouth and Network Rail are continuing to work with Great Western Railway to investigate the reintroduction of passenger services between Okehampton and Exeter. The Bristol – Exeter strategic study has recently had a kick-off meeting and technical work is now underway. There are also a number of planned rail works in the South West in the coming months: Tiverton Parkway track renewals (5 days – 28 September to 2 October), Exmouth Junction renewal (6 days – 25 October to 31 October), platform extension work at Lympstone and Exeter St James Park during Exmouth Junction block and Looe bridge deck replacement (5 days in November). These will be publicised by Network Rail and Great Western Railway and travel arrangements made nearer the time of each works commencing.

 

Heart of the South West LEP reported that it has been successful in securing £35.4m of the £900m Getting Building Fund. This funding must be spent by March 2022. The Heart of the South West LEP successful projects include 3 transport schemes: Concourse Phase 2, Brunel Plaza, Plymouth (£4.17m), Firepool and Taunton Station Access (£0.4m) and Exeter Bus Station (£0.8m).

 

 


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