Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report.

The Executive Board

AGREED        that the M11 Junction 11 south bound bus only off slip road concept should be integrated into the Western Orbital project ensuring that any strategic transport and economic benefits may be realised and that a sustainable phased proposal can be developed.

Bob Menzies, Director of Strategy and Development at Cambridgeshire County Council, introduced this report, which summarised the assessment of a southbound bus only off slip road at Junction 11 of the M11. He explained that uncertainties remained as to the long term plans of Highways England for the M11 as well as potential land use planning issues associated with Junction 11. He recommended that further works on this project should be integrated into the Western Orbital project to ensure that any strategic transport benefits could be achieved and full account taken of other issues on the corridor.

Councillor Roger Hickford, Chairman of the Joint Assembly, stated that the Assembly had endorsed the report’s recommendation. The Assembly had expressed concerns regarding the demand on Junction 11 from staff at AstraZeneca, which would increase when Papworth Hospital relocated.

Councillor Francis Burkitt suggested that work on Junction 11 should be carried out in 2017 and not have to wait for Tranche 2.

Councillor Lewis Herbert advised that the Police had the enforcement powers needed to prevent the use of private roads by through traffic wanting to access the Biomedical Campus site.

It was agreed that the Executive Board should liaise with representatives from the Biomedical Campus and also the Trumpington Residents’ Association regarding the local pressures due to increased traffic going to the Biomedical Campus and to Addenbrooke’s.

The Executive Board

AGREED        that the M11 Junction 11 south bound bus only off slip road concept should be integrated into the Western Orbital project ensuring that any strategic transport and economic benefits may be realised and that a sustainable phased proposal can be developed.

To consider the attached report.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board agrees that the M11 Junction 11 south bound bus only off slip road concept should be integrated into the Western Orbital project ensuring that any strategic transport and economic benefits may be realised and that a sustainable phased proposal can be developed.

The Joint Assembly considered a report which provided a summary of the further assessment of a southbound bus only off slip road at Junction 11 of the M11.

Ashley Heller, Team Leader of Public Transport Projects at Cambridgeshire County Council, presented the report and explained that the assessment undertaken did not support a standalone bus only south bound off slip road, but confirmed that some options may be deliverable albeit with associated risks.  It was noted that there remained uncertainties as to the long term plans of Highways England for the M11 as well as potential land use planning issues associated with the junction which would require further clarification.  Mr Heller outlined that the proposal reflected a very small stretch of bus priority along an extremely long and congested corridor but recognised that there were issues with this particular junction and that intervention would be necessary in view of employment growth in the area.  In his professional option, Mr Heller felt that it was more sensible to consider the junction in the context of the Western Orbital scheme, with the junction featuring as part of a modular scheme potentially around Park and Ride intervention. 

Councillor Bridget Smith supported the recommendations contained within the report and made the point that no buses currently travelled along the route, calling for the project to be dropped at this stage.

Andy Williams corrected some the of statistics quoted in the report at paragraphs 5 and 6 of the report in relation to Astra Zeneca, Papworth Hospital and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which he felt underestimated the size of the problem.  He also made it clear that AstraZeneca had in fact relocated from London, not Chester as stated in the report.  Mr Williams reiterated the significant demand that would be placed on this junction as early as 2018 when Papworth Hospital moved to the site, reminding Members that AstraZeneca would have 2,000 additional employees located on the site and that there would be a further 6,000 employees as a result of growth around Sawston.  He added that 50% of Papworth Hospital employees had indicated that they would use a bus service if there was one in operation.  Mr Williams said that something needed to be in place before 2018 and was therefore keen for something to come back for consideration in the future, particularly around what could be done in respect of Park and Ride. 

Councillor Roger Hickford, Chairman of the Joint Assembly, highlighted that a report on this issue was scheduled for reporting back to the Joint Assembly and Executive Board at their meetings in July 2017. 

Claire Ruskin was interested in the traffic modelling information and felt that this should be made available.  She also made the general point that the City Deal was seeking to make businesses more accessible and practical for people, which should be taken into account as part of considering this specific project.

Councillor Tim Bick was of the opinion that any improvement gained as a result  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8