Agenda item

To consider the attached report by Graham Hughes, Executive Director (Cambridgeshire County Council).

The Executive Board:

(a)        APPROVED the proposed route option for the Chisholm Trail for the purposes of public consultation.

(b)        GAVE APPROVAL to proceed to consultation on the route in the Autumn 2015.

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Executive Board with an opportunity to consider whether to commence with public consultation in respect of a proposed route option for the Chisholm Trail.

Councillor Roger Hickford, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Assembly, provided the Board with a report following consideration of this issue at the meeting of the Assembly held on 15 July 2015.  He said that progress made with Cambridge Past, Present and Future since that meeting was extremely encouraging.  The Assembly had recommended a slight amendment to the recommendation contained within the report, to make it clear that the route had not already been agreed and that it was out for public consultation.

Graham Hughes, Executive Director of Economy, Transport and Environment at Cambridgeshire County Council, presented the report and explained that the Chisholm Trail had been included as a City Deal transport scheme due to the range of benefits it could deliver, which included:

·         being a safer, direct and more convenient largely off-road route for cycling and walking;

·         providing improved access to green spaces, employment areas, retail sites and residential centres;

·         providing links into a network of existing cycle routes;

·         ensuring a minimal impact on motor traffic journey times;

·         enhancing the environment, streetscape and air quality;

·         creating more capacity for sustainable trips along the rail corridor;

·         links to strategic priorities for City Deal cross-city cycle improvements.

Further to the public questions received earlier at this meeting, Mr Hughes confirmed that discussions would continue with Cambridge Past, Present and Future to seek to address the issues raised and agree an amicable way forward.

The following points were noted following discussion by Members of the Executive Board:

·         going ahead with the consultation was the right thing to do and any comments, such as those received as part of public questions or statements at this meeting, could be submitted and fed into that process.  This would then inform further consideration of the final route for the Trail;

·         one of the public questions received earlier at the meeting suggested delaying the consultation until surveys at the Leper Chapel had been undertaken.  This was not a realistic option as the scheme had to be delivered in accordance with strict deadlines in order to secure further City Deal funding from subsequent tranches.  Officers reported their understanding that the ecology survey had already been received;

·         a report on the findings of the consultation would be reported back to the Board in January or February 2016;

·         there may be some elements of the Trail’s programme that could be accelerated ahead of the proposed timetable for delivery.  Officers agreed to look at this in further detail, highlighting and mitigating any risks associated with doing so, including the risk of abortive work;

·         one of the key risks from a programme delivery perspective was how long it could sometimes take for decisions to be made on specific issues by Network Rail, especially in respect of land ownership;

·         most landowners potentially affected by the proposed Trail had already been contacted and made aware of the proposal.

The Executive Board unanimously:

(a)        APPROVED the proposed route option for the Chisholm Trail for the purposes of public consultation.

(b)        GAVE APPROVAL to proceed to consultation on the route in the Autumn 2015.