Presentation by the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment
Minutes:
(Councillor Biederman declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being a Member of North Devon District Council and Councillors Edmunds, Chugg and Greenslade each declared a personal interest by virtue of being members of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority)
(Councillor R Cann (North Devon District Council) attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item outlining local concerns about the impact of current and proposed residential development on the highways network in and around Barnstaple)
The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment presented the Barnstaple and Bideford Transport Strategy that had been developed in order to identify and evidence the transport infrastructure that was required to support new development being identified by the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan. The presentation covered: -
· the context for a Barnstaple and Bideford Transport Strategy focusing on the high levels of predicted growth concentrated on the two main market town areas of Barnstaple and Bideford on the A39 /A361 corridor
· links to the Devon Local Transport Plan (LTP3) transport priorities for the market and coastal towns and rural areas to: (i) assist in supporting existing and future development of the towns; (ii) work with the community to demonstrate a low carbon approach to travel; (iii) improve accessibility by developing core bus and rail services, (iv) make Devon ‘the place to be naturally active’ through investment in the leisure network; and (iv) develop an approach to parking policy which supports the vitality of town centres;
· the aims of the strategy to support growth through new development, by mitigating severe traffic impacts on the local highway network and supporting sustainable travel and public health
· the current travel to work patterns, the impact of future developments and links to A39/A361 corridor
· outline of planned and anticipated developments in and around Barnstaple and highway capacity and proposed associated junction improvements on the A39/A361 corridor.
· outline of the cycling and walking strategy for Barnstaple
· outline of the public transport strategy.
Members referred to the increasing highway network pressures as a result of current and projected residential development in and around Barnstaple, the need for the consideration by this Committee (Minute *38 of 20 December refers) of options available for improvements in respect of the Cedars Roundabout, as had been previously discussed by the Head of Service with the local members.
The Chairman was presented by Councillor Biederman (Fremington) with a petition containing approximately 80 signatures, seeking improvements at the Cedars Roundabout, Barnstaple in view of congestion at peak times in the area and impact on the residents and local road users.
Members also discussed issues relating to:
· the Pilton Bridge Junction and capacity issues
· the need for a Park and Ride/Change scheme near the North Devon hospital in view of the limited parking stock in Barnstaple and at Chivenor relating to the ongoing air quality issues in Braunton as a result of traffic congestion
· the timescale for network improvements which was largely developer-led
· the cumulative impact of development on the network which was reflected in current traffic modelling methodology used by the County Council and that the Council was feeding into the Local Plan which was being reviewed by the District Council.
[The Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment would be asked to respond direct to the organiser on the issues raised, within 15 days, in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme].