Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Development on the Cambridgeshire Long-Term Transport Strategy.

Noted progress being made with the development of a Long Term Transport Strategy (LLTS) for Cambridgeshire and the delivery of the key elements of the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan (LTP3).

By means of a report by the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with progress being made with the development of a Long Term Transport Strategy (LLTS) for Cambridgeshire and the delivery of the key elements of the Cambridgeshire Local Transport Plan (LTP3).

Members were advised that the draft LLTS seeks to provide an integrated network enabling efficient and reliable travel across Cambridgeshire and beyond. The Strategy has been developed to support project growth in all emerging Local Plans and includes Action Plans for setting out key infrastructure requirements. 

Particular attention was drawn to schemes planned for public sector delivery in the period 2014 to 2021 which includes proposals for Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots together with proposed rail service improvements for Cambridgeshire.  Whilst appreciative of the work done to produce the Plan, Executive Councillors were of the view that reference should be made to the required improvements to the A1, particularly at the Buckden roundabout and the need to improve the two track section surrounding the Welwyn Viaduct given its impact on the local rail network.

It was also pointed out that the County Council intends to refresh the Local Transport Plan to reflect current environmental issues, ongoing funding concerns, delivery and progress of schemes, as well as issues arising from the growth agenda.

Having noted that the document had been endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the development of the Cambridgeshire Long Term Transport Strategy and the refresh of the Cambridgeshire  Local Transport Plan LTP3 be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Development on the Draft Cambridgeshire Long-Term Transport Strategy and Local Transport Plan 3 Refresh.

(Councillor D B Dew, Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Housing, was in attendance for this item).

The Panel gave consideration to a report by the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing progress of the development of the Draft Long Term Transport Strategy for Cambridgeshire and containing an update on the Local Transport Plan 3. Both documents were essential to the delivery of the growth agenda and had been developed in conjunction with neighbouring authorities to ensure a coordinated and collaborative approach was taken to transport planning.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to the schemes planned for delivery by the public sector in the period from 2014 to 2021, which included proposals for Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots, together with details of planned and potential rail service improvements in the Cambridgeshire area. Improvements to the A428 were assumed at this stage. The position would be confirmed when the Highways Agency released its Route Based Strategy in March 2015. A new rail station was proposed at Alconbury Weald, which was welcomed by the Panel.

Members were advised that the Strategy represented a radical change in approach to transport planning in the Cambridgeshire area and had widespread political support. It was emphasised that developments would be planned in the context of the transport system as a whole rather than as individual projects. The point was also made that transport infrastructure improvements would be needed before large scale housing growth took place. Importantly, if growth was to be delivered, Government funding would be required to meet the cost of such works.

The Panel discussed the risks associated with the Strategy and its underlying links with the planning process. Councillor I C Bates drew attention to a recent Planning Inspectorate decision, which demonstrated that planning decisions that took account of transport matters could have an unexpected effect on the local planning policy position. The Panel stressed that all steps should be taken to prevent similar unintended consequences arising in Huntingdonshire.

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to agree and note the current progress with the development of both the Cambridgeshire Long Term Transport Strategy and the refresh of Local Transport Plan 3.