Agenda item

Report to follow

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

 

a)    Notes the draft Consultation Report for publication on the GCCD website.

b)    Reviews the preferred options and approve further technical work to develop and refine the options, which improve public transport reliability, connectivity and access through park & ride expansion, proposals to deliver bus priority and increased cycling through improved infrastructure to support sustainable travel between homes and jobs, particularly:

i)          Road safety enhancements between Linton and Horseheath.

ii)         Improvements to signalised junctions and westbound bus lanes in Linton.

iii)        Measures to improve bus journey times through Linton High Street.

iv)        New and improved cycleways between Babraham and Great Abington / Granta Park.

v)         A new park and ride site near the A11.

vi)        A new westbound bus lane between the new park and ride site and Hinton Way roundabout.

vii)       A new segregated bus route from the Babraham Road park and ride site to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC). Further work alongside future City Deal prioritisation work will determine if this route is to be on road or a new off road route;

 

(c)          Endorses a second public consultation exercise on the preferred options  to commence in September 2017 after further workshops have taken place with Local Liaison Forums and councillors, and agrees a delegation to finalise consultation materials. [1]

(d)          Approves a one-off spend of £25,000 to undertake some transport modelling, as part of pre-Strategic Outline Business Case work on the dualling of the A1307 between Haverhill and the A11.

 

Antony Carpen, Robin Heydon and Jim Chisholm asked their pre-submitted questions, as detailed in the notice of public questions.

 

Graham Hughes, Cambridgeshire County Council, presented the A1307 three campuses to Cambridge report. The public questions were answered during the presentation of this report.

 

In response to his question, Mr Carpen was informed that a Cambridge-Haverhill railway line had been discounted for the following reasons:

·         Rail was a very expensive form of infrastructure to deliver. This scheme would cost £390 million, with a very low benefit to cost ratio (BCR). The scale of the scheme and likely benefit returned could not justify City Deal investment.

·         Capacity constraints of sharing light rail with heavy rail existed south of Cambridge station.

·         Parts of the track had been removed between Cambridge and Haverhill, making reinstatement difficult and expensive.

An overview of the public consultation responses was provided. It was explained that modelling in developing the proposed options, had included all planned growth and development to 2031.

 

In response to Mr Heydon’s question, the following points were made:

·         The need to provide high quality cycling standards was agreed with.

·         Design standards used were TA9105 and TA9005 along with Sustrans and Camcycle guidance.

·         The great benefit from working closely with Camcyle and other organisations was recognised, in order to develop and make changes over and above the design guidance.

·         Highways England was being worked closely with regarding the proposals to cross the A11. The City Deal would also like to work with Camcylcle in order to develop the concepts into more detailed schemes.

·         Mr Heydon expressed further concern regarding the 10 metre width of land to contain both bus and cycle facilities, advising that the strip of land should be 15 metres wide. In response to this, Mr Hughes advised that there was always a balance between funding and land available and the schemes that could be provided. This scheme was at the concept stage and therefore further debate would be welcomed in order to work out the balance with this scheme.

In response to Mr Chisholm’s question, the following points were made:

·         Decisions on projects were not only based on benefit to cost ratio (BCR).

·         Focus had been on the A1307 corridor, with the creation of infrastructure for this route thought to be logical and sensible.

·         Greenways if developed would be very attractive, however it was recognised that many cyclists wanted to get directly from their start point to destination and often this meant cycling on a road, so the routes proposed here were also considered necessary.

·         It was important not to see this package of measures in isolation, but to consider how it integrated with other schemes.

Councillor Tony Orgee, Chairman of the A1307 Local Liaison Forum (LLF), was invited to speak. Councillor Orgee updated the Joint Assembly on the LLF discussions regarding the A1307, making the following points:

·         Councillor Orgee informed the Joint Assembly that the A1307 report had only been made available three hours before the LLF meeting at which the proposals were discussed. The LLF did not feel that this was acceptable.

·         Improvements to signalised junctions and westbound bus lanes in Linton had been discussed at length by the LLF. Councillor Orgee highlighted that nothing had been included in the proposals regarding improving bus journeys eastwards as well as westwards.

·         It was felt that there had been a lack of consultation with Linton Parish Council, as well as other neighbouring areas and councils.

·         The broad principal of new and improved cycleways was very much accepted by the LLF.

·         The cycleway bridge over the A11 was not user friendly. It was felt that ramped access was needed and safety railings were not high enough.

·         It was felt that improvements to the cycleway on Babraham Road were urgently needed.

·         Problems were raised with all of the suggested park and ride sites. The LLF supported a park and ride to the east of Linton.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the details of the proposals of a new westbound bus lane between the new park and ride site and Hinton Way roundabout.

·         The LLF had found it difficult to engage on the proposal of a new segregated bus route from Babraham Road park and ride to the Biomedical Campus, as it was unsure if this was on or off road. Questions were raised regarding whether some of the proposals were feasible and whether all landowners had been consulted in case more land needed to be purchased to deliver projects. Concern was also raised as to whether other councils had been consulted on proposals.

·         A vote was taken at the LLF meeting, the result of which agreed that a pause should be taken for further work to be undertaken before a decision on the A1307 corridor was made by the City Deal Executive Board. Approximately 30-35 people had attended the LLF meeting.

In response to Councillor Orgee, Mr Hughes apologised for the lateness of the A1307 report.

 

The Joint Assembly discussed and debated the proposals. Councillor Cuffley raised concerns, making the following points:

·         It was felt that there was a lack of a holistic overview, with neighbouring areas such as Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Royston having not been consulted. Furthermore Sawston, Babraham and the Genome Campus had neither been considered nor consulted.

·         It was pointed out that a bus lane needed to be eastbound and westbound, so that people could be taken to work and back.

·         The project should be paused as so much critical detail was lacking.

In response to Councillor Cuffley’s concerns, Mr Hughes emphasised that proposals were not detailed at this stage and were broad recommendations on concepts. Consultation would take place on these and further work and modelling would then be undertaken.

 

Councillor Smith commended officers for the quality of the report and was pleased that value for money had been a key consideration. However, Councillor Smith raised concerns and agreed with Councillor Orgee and the Local Liaison Forum, that proposals were premature. Councillor Smith advised that time should be given to allow new technologies to come forward and for other initiatives to bed in first so that different projects did not clash and negate each others benefits. She also advised that city access work should be undertaken first. Councillor Smith therefore called for a pause to the A1307 project.

 

Claire Ruskin advised that these were sensible proposals with great potential that should be progressed rapidly. Ms Ruskin expressed support for the proposals to move forward and for further work and consultation to take place as part of this rather than pausing. In response to the concerns raised by Councillor Smith, Ms Ruskin advised that these proposals would complement any emerging new technologies.

 

Councillor Baigent expressed support for the wider cycleway. He asked what would happen to the other road traffic if a segregated bus lane was built, raising concern that traffic would be able to move faster and get in front of buses, thereby blocking the buses on their exit from the busway. Councillor Baigent suggested restrictive measures on cars to prevent this happening should be considered.

 

Councillor Bick advised that the roads were at risk of backfilling with more traffic unless proper demand management systems were put in place.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Bick, the Joint Assembly was informed that the park and ride would not necessarily reduce the number of buses from Sawston to the city and may offer the opportunity to increase the number of buses and services. The example of St Ives was given, where the guided busway had led to an increase in bus services from St Ives and had not reduced the services from the surrounding villages, while also leading to a 2% reduction in traffic on the A14. Councillor Bick raised concern that an impact of the park and ride site could be an increase in traffic caused by people driving from Sawston to the park and ride.

 

Dr Wells advised that the A1307 was an important and major route serving the biomedical campus. He encouraged the project’s momentum be maintained while addressing the concerns raised, pointing out that the route was congested and dangerous and was key for the biomedical campus.

 

Concern was raised regarding lack of integration, with the importance of join up of the whole route from Haverhill to the biomedical campus and on to the city centre. It was felt that the Addenbrooke’s roundabout could cause a problem at a later date.

 

The following was advised:

·         Detail of elements such as turning points for buses in the biomedical campus needed to be considered, in order to provide an effective service.

·         Worts’ Causeway could be looked at as an additional bus route as this was already used by bus drivers.

·         That the collecting mechanisms to get more people on buses be considered, such  for example a park and ride further out in order to enhance flow.

·         The solution to ease congestion between the park and ride site and the Addenbrooke’s roundabout should maintain a pedestrian route. Concern was raised that this may be squeezed out by a busway due to the narrowness of the road.

·         Access of emergency vehicles needed to be considered so that their movement was not restricted.

·         Dr Wells advised that papers needed to set out in a quantative way what the road was being designed to deliver, setting out a clear design requirement. It was  pointed out that while 16,000 people worked on the biomedical campus, the bus route only delivered 1600 people there.

Councillor Price expressed his understanding of the views of the Local Liaison Forum, however agreed that the A1307 should not be paused.

 

Councillor Kavanagh expressed support for the project to continue to proceed, pointing out that nearly 1500 people responded to the public consultation, most of which supported the proposals. He also felt that this route was too important for the project to be paused given it was dangerous and that more casualties along the route were likely to occur if the project was paused. He felt that the proposal of a second park and ride site along the route was very positive.

 

Councillor Wotherspoon, expressed the view as a cyclist that the A1307 corridor was a treacherous route for cycling and that something needed to be done about it. Councillor Wotherspoon expressed support for maintaining the project’s momentum whilst acknowledging the concerns raised by the LLF. He also made a plea for the future proofing of plans.

 

Helen Valentine expressed support for maintaining momentum, pointing out that there would be no pause in growth of the biomedical campus and other research parks.

 

Councillor Smith called upon the City Deal to bear in mind and address customer satisfaction as does Highways England on its major schemes. She advised a short pause to run high quality customer workshops, pointing out that in other areas she thought that the City Deal may risk judicial review due to a lack of public engagement and consultation. She advised the opportunity be taken at an early stage for the City Deal to take its customers with it.

 

Claire Ruskin advised that workshops were part of the next phase and that there was no need to pause the project in order to allow for workshops to be undertaken, but that these should be done alongside the continuation of work.

 

Councillor Cuffley expressed support for customer workshops to be undertaken.

 

Councillor Orgee informed the Joint Assembly that the Local Liaison Forum consisted of county, district and parish councillors. He clarified that in advance of the meeting, officers had been asked to keep their presentation brief, however this was advised on the assumption that the A1307 report would be received on time, which it was not and as such LLF members had not had the background knowledge for what was being presented to them. Councillor Orgee advised that the traffic congestion from Haverhill to the city centre needed to be addressed as buses got held up in this.

 

Due to the concerns raised, the Chairman proposed that the second public consultation exercise should be delayed until September 2017, to allow for workshops to take place with the LLF and councillors, which would inform the consultation. A vote was taken on this proposal with eight Joint Assembly members voting in favour and three against.

 

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

 

a)    Notes the draft Consultation Report for publication on the GCCD website.

b)    Reviews the preferred options and approves further technical work to develop and refine the options, which improve public transport reliability, connectivity and access through park & ride expansion, proposals to deliver bus priority and increased cycling through improved infrastructure to support sustainable travel between homes and jobs, particularly:

i)          Road safety enhancements between Linton and Horseheath.

ii)         Improvements to signalised junctions and westbound bus lanes in Linton.

iii)        Measures to improve bus journey times through Linton High Street.

iv)        New and improved cycleways between Babraham and Great Abington / Granta Park.

v)         A new park and ride site near the A11.

vi)        A new westbound bus lane between the new park and ride site and Hinton Way roundabout.

vii)       A new segregated bus route from the Babraham Road park and ride site to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC). Further work alongside future City Deal prioritisation work will determine if this route is to be on road or a new off road route;

 

(c)          Endorses a second public consultation exercise on the preferred options to commence in September 2017 after further workshops have taken place with Local Liaison Forums and councillors, and agrees a delegation to finalise consultation materials.

(d)          Approves a one-off spend of £25,000 to undertake some transport modelling, as part of pre-Strategic Outline Business Case work on the dualling of the A1307 between Haverhill and the A11.