Agenda item

To consider the attached report.

The Executive Board:

(a)        NOTED the scheme progress being made in terms of planning approval, land procurement and stakeholder engagement.

(b)        APPROVED construction of phase one of the scheme, subject to gaining planning permission.

(c)        DELEGATED powers to approve the construction contract and selection of contractor for phase one.

(d)        SUPPORTED the continuation of land negotiations.

The Executive Board considered a report which provided an update on the Chisholm Trail cycling scheme.

Mike Davies, Team Leader (Cycling Projects) at Cambridgeshire County Council, presented the report and reminded the Board of the following principles of the route:

·         it was a direct and pleasant route with improved journey ambience;

·         it linked to key destinations and trip generators;

·         it was inclusive, supporting people with disabilities;

·         it was safe and avoided traffic;

·         it provided seamless links to green spaces;

·         it supported multi-modality.

Mr Davies added that the key principle behind this scheme, and the City Deal programme as a whole, was to make active modes safe, convenient and the logical choice over private car, highlighting the wider benefits as being improved public health, assisting to address congestion, better air quality and more reliable journeys.

Councillor Roger Hickford, Chairman of the Joint Assembly, reported that unanimous support was given to the recommendations contained within the report upon consideration by the Assembly at its meeting on 3 November 2016.  He outlined, however, concerns expressed by Assembly Members in relation to phase 2 of the scheme regarding negotiations with Network Rail over the proposed purchase of land.  These negotiations had taken some time to date and it was unclear when a final decision would be made by Network Rail as to whether or not the land would be available for the phase 2 scheme.  An alternative approach had been suggested by officers, as outlined in the report, which featured a bridge.  The Assembly was informed that the proposed bridge would begin and end in new housing developments, but Councillor Hickford questioned how this new bridge could be delivered alongside and be linked into these new housing developments given the respective timescales.  He emphasised the importance of knowing as soon as possible whether Network Rail would be willing to sell the land in order that officers, the Joint Assembly and the Executive Board could understand whether or not investigating other alternatives was necessary. 

Councillor Francis Burkitt highlighted that, as with the A10 cycleway scheme and Foxton rail crossing discussed earlier at this meeting, Network Rail were again a factor in the scheme’s development.  He questioned whether the Member of Parliament for Cambridge may be able to offer some assistance. 

Mr Davies confirmed that discussions were still ongoing but highlighted that he, together with other officers from the County Council, would be meeting on-site in Cambridge with senior representatives of Network Rail in three weeks time.  He agreed to seek to progress these discussions as part of that meeting, but said that the added support of Members of Parliament and the Executive Board would be welcomed should this prove unsuccessful.

Mr Davies confirmed that the bridge was essentially an alternative option to the original proposal, something that he felt was right to start planning for given

the uncertainty around the availability of Network Rail’s land for phase 2 of the scheme.  The specific location of the bridge on the plan set out in the report was deliberately vague in order that this did not cause any alarm to people living in the area and due to its conceptual nature at this stage.

Councillor Herbert requested that an update on negotiations with Network Rail be reported to the Joint Assembly and Executive Board as part of the next cycle of meetings.  He acknowledged that there were challenges to overcome with regard to phase 2 of the scheme and understood that Network Rail itself was looking ahead at its own programme.  Councillor Herbert was pleased with the scheme as a whole, stating that the Chisholm Trail would provide strong links to employment sites, large residential areas and travel hubs and that the Executive Board would demonstrate its determination in continuing to complete it.

The Executive Board:

(a)        NOTED the scheme progress being made in terms of planning approval, land procurement and stakeholder engagement.

(b)        APPROVED construction of phase one of the scheme, subject to gaining planning permission.

(c)        DELEGATED powers to approve the construction contract and selection of contractor for phase one.

(d)        SUPPORTED the continuation of land negotiations.