East-West Rail Bedford to Cambridge consultation response
The Deputy Leader agreed to approve the submission including revised wording reflecting the Cabinet minute from the meeting held on 6 March 2019.
This decision was first published on 11 March and so the deadline for call-in is 5pm on Monday 18 March.
10 East-West Rail Bedford to Cambridge consultation response PDF 192 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
1. amendments to reflect the following:
· On the approach to Cambridge section, removal of an expression of a preference, and focus instead on issues that should be taken into account, including emphasise the importance of connectivity, to the east of Cambridge, to the proposed Cambridge South railway station, and to other transport links;
· an assessment of the impact on the amenity of communities located along the chosen route
· an expression of the Council’s disappointment that trains using the route at least at the outset would be diesel rather than electric,
· highlighting the necessity for measures to minimise any adverse impact on the environment and on heritage assets, and to explore opportunities for environmental enhancement, including to address flood risk.
2. delegation to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Deputy Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, to finalise the wording of the response.
Minutes:
Cabinet heard that representatives from 52 most affected Parish Councils in South Cambridgeshire had been invited to participate in a series of workshops. Comments included
Councillor Hazel Smith highlighted the proposal’s potential implications for the development of new housing, but regretted that it did little to improve local transport.
Councillor Nigel Cathcart (local Member for Bassingbourn) was concerned about the scale of growth that might be located around a new railway station in South Cambridgeshire. The Cambourne route appeared to be the better option, but timescale was an issue.
In response to an email query as to the Council’s opinion on whether the railway required Strategic Environmental Assessment, officers provided a verbal update that this was a matter between the applicant – East West Rail Company – and those raising the question. However, the Council’s draft response did refer to the need to integrate the project with environmental and planning issues.
Following further discussion, and on behalf of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cabinet approved the draft consultation response to the East-West Rail Bedford to Cambridge consultation, attached as Appendix 1 to the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, subject to
1. amendments to reflect the following:
· On the approach to Cambridge section, removal of an expression of a preference, and focus instead on issues that should be taken into account, including emphasise the importance of connectivity, to the east of Cambridge, to the proposed Cambridge South railway station, and to other transport links;
· an assessment of the impact on the amenity of communities located along the chosen route
· an expression of the Council’s disappointment that trains using the route at least at the outset would be diesel rather than electric,
· highlighting the necessity for measures to minimise any adverse impact on the environment and on heritage assets, and to explore opportunities for environmental enhancement, including to address flood risk.
2. delegation to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Deputy Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, to finalise the wording of the response.