Agenda item

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Yabsley has asked that the Committee consider this matter.

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment to report on a meeting held on 24 March 2021.  

(Councillors A Davis and J Cann declared prejudicial interests in this matter due to being Members of the Joint Crematorium Committee, which could be affected by this matter, and left the meeting for the duration of its consideration)

(Councillor Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item)

The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment reported that work on completing a footway along Old Torrington Road up to Sandringham Gardens was progressing. Progress had been slow due to the issue of utilities being present and the expected cost of works to these utilities is very high. A stage 1 road safety audit was currently also being undertaken.

The Traffic Regulation Order for the bus gate has been drawn up but had not  been put out for advertising/consultation.

The issues had been discussed at a meeting on 24^th February 2021 between County and District Councillors and Officers.

Although the bus gate was proposed as part of the permitted housing development which was part of the site allocated in the Local Plan as ‘Larkbear’, there was concern from Members regarding the traffic impact on Old Torrington Road and Gratton Way with or without the bus gate.

If the bus gate is built vehicle access to the crematorium would be entirely via Gratton Way and this would impact on the operation of the crematorium and  the road network.

As part of the entire Larkbear development, currently subject to a second planning application, there is a requirement in the Local Plan for a new vehicle access onto the A361 Western Bypass. If built this would give an alternative access to Old Torrington Road and on to Gratton Way for all traffic including that accessing the crematorium and Petroc. This access had been identified in the County Council’s Transport Infrastructure Strategy.

In the event that Devon County Council’s concerns as a consultee in the planning process was outweighed in the planning balance by the Local Planning Authority or Planning Inspectorate,  the entire Larkbear development could gain planning permission without the requirement for building the new access junction onto the Bypass and cyclebridge to Seven Brethren. In such a scenario there would be an even larger pressure of traffic on Old Torrington Road and/or Gratton Way, depending on the building of the bus gate, or not.

There was the possibility of allowing the bus gate to be built shortly and removed again in the future, or not built yet and built in the future.

There was also a possibility to have no new bus gate and remove the existing bus gate, opening up Gratton Way and Old Torrington Road as a through route for all traffic.

All the possibilities above would have different impacts on traffic, and no detailed transport analysis of these impacts had yet been undertaken, including the impacts of yet unbuilt development such as the new Lidl store on Gratton Way.

The local Members were supportive of the approach outlined below. 

It was MOVED by Councillor J Yabsley, SECONDED by Councillor R Edgell and

RESOLVED that the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment be requested to:

(a) take necessary measures, including allocating budget and resources, to advance the design and negotiation of land for a new junction on the A361 Western Bypass to access the ‘Larkbear’ development; and carry out transport analysis of traffic in the location area including Old Torrington Road and Gratton Way to support the need for such a junction;

(b) progress the design work and planning application for a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A361 and railway line between Lake Road and Seven Brethren;

(c) ensure that robust consideration is made of major planning applications accessing Old Torrington Road in particular regards to the cumulative effect of traffic on Old Torrington Road and Gratton Way and the need for improved highway infrastructure in the area; and

(d) progress the advertising of a Traffic Regulation Order for a bus gate on Old Torrington Road with the detailed design be agreed by the Head of Planning Transportation and Environment in consultation with the Chair and all Local Members affected, and if necessary a special meeting of this Committee be convened to consider responses.