Decision details

To respond to the Highways Agency consultation.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder resolved

1.      that the Highways Agency be informed that South Cambridgeshire District Council

a)      supports the A14 improvement scheme in principle.  However, there may be matters of detail, or alternative proposals, that could prompt it into making representations at the public inquiry, particularly as Local Planning Authority and Local Environmental Health Authority.   Such details could include treatments or designs intended to address the impact on existing or planned development, noise mitigation, air quality, landscape, ecology, drainage issues and so on.   The Council reserves the right to make such representations should it be necessary in the light of submissions yet to be made by other parties and assessed by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

b)      urges the delivery of the scheme as soon as possible.  The improvements are necessary in order to deliver the Growth Agenda, and improve journey times and road safety for the travelling public.

c)      urges the Highways Agency to work with Cambridgeshire County Council (as Local Highways Authority), South Cambridgeshire District Council and those parish councils along the route, in preparing a construction management plan and minimise general traffic rat-running through villages during the A14 improvement works. 

d)      seeks commitment from the Highways Agency to engage and consult with the local authority on the detailed design stage of the whole route, in particular regarding the following issues:

a.      Barriers and other mitigation measures and their installation. 

b.      Construction Environmental Management Plan.

c.      Construction Noise & Vibration Management Plan to agree noise and vibration mitigation measures.

d.      Landscape measures, including schemes for off-site planting.

e.      Ecology Matters

e)      Urges the Highways Agency to explore opportunities for the recycling of waste materials from the Northstowe development site.

f)        supports the revised route alignment to the north of Conington, which increases the separation between the village and the new A14.

g)      supports the provision of an A1198 junction with west-facing slips and emergency only east-facing slips.

h)      supports the revised junction arrangement at Fen Drayton and Trinity Foot allowing direct access to the Cambridge Services from both the A14 and Local Access Road, and urges the Highways Agency to consider the need for a footbridge allowing direct pedestrian access between Buckingway Business Park and Cambridge Services.

i)        supports the retention of the existing over bridge at the Bar Hill junction as a segregated route for non-motorised users.

j)        accepts that an all movement interchange at Girton is not currently justified, given the evidence provided by the Highways Agency.

k)      requests public scrutiny of the Highway Agency’s modelling data, and seeks confirmation that the Highways Agency has taken account of the latest position in relation to the Council’s Local Development Framework, particularly concerning revisions to allocations for development.

l)        reserves its position and seeks commitment from the Highways Agency to include it in discussions at detailed design stage to make sure that noise attenuation barriers at Orchard Park are provided to the highest international standards.

m)   supports and seeks commitment from the Highways Agency to include it in discussions at detailed design stage and provide, to the highest international standards, a noise attenuation barrier adjacent to the Blackwell Traveller Site, as well as additional planting there, which should improve the environment of the site.

n)      accepts that the forecast changes in air quality will mean that national air quality objectives would be met.  As part of its duties in Local Air Quality Management (LAQM), the District Council’s Health and Environmental Service will continue to monitor air quality at strategic points along the A14.  Should the predictions made in the modelling, such as improvements in fleet emissions, pollutant background concentrations, traffic figures and so on. not be achieved and, as a result, the air quality objectives are not met, then the Highways Agency will be required to engage with the local authority to investigate potential mitigation measures (which could include speed limits and traffic light phasing at junctions to reduce queuing).  These may be based on long term emissions reduction measures at the detailed design stage, should information come to light before this stage, or at any point in the future as part of the LAQM process.

o)      does not object to the Scheme on the grounds of noise impact provided that adequate mitigation measures are fully implemented and maintained.

p)      supports the landscape measures proposed as part of the scheme and seeks confirmation that it will be consulted at the detailed design stage on landscape measures, including schemes for off-site planting. The Highways Agency is requested to provide further information on aspects of the Environmental Statement regarding the impact of the scheme on the setting of Cambridge and surrounding countryside.

q)      objects to the lack of provision of a mammal pass for water voles on watercourse 18 (Washpit Brook), and would encourage the Highways Agency to provide mammal passes on culverts as standard. 

r)       objects to the lack of provision for the protection of the bat flight path in the Hilton area where large numbers have been observed.

s)      seeks a commitment from the Highways Agency to monitor newly created habitats every second year over a ten-year period, and to include it in discussions during the detailed design stage on ecology matters, particularly in investigating the provision of safety fencing for livestock and wildlife, where appropriate.

t)        supportsthe general provision made for non-motorised users.  However, objects in principle to the lack of consideration of crossings over the A14 along the Cambridge Northern Bypass at the Histon and Impington and Fen Ditton junctions, pending the outcome of the A14 Cycle Crossing Study.  The Council seeks commitment from the Highways Agency to include it in discussions during the detailed design of the NIAB bridge to ensure its suitability for non-motorised users.

u)      supports the provision of lay-bys, which should help deal with the current shortage of lorry parking along the route, and urges the Highways Agency to consider off-site provision for lorry parking to discourage unauthorised lorry parking in villages along the route of the A14.

2.         that authority to make any detailed changes to the objections, and negotiate any withdrawal of objections, be delegated to the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder or Portfolio Holders