Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Service Manager (Growth) on the A141 and St Ives Studies.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has:

§  endorsed the results of the A141 Study;

§  endorsed the results of the St Ives Transport Study;

§  approved the list of proposals identified in the St Ives Study and support for Cambridgeshire County Council in their submission to the Combined Authority for funding, and for consultation and delivery should funding be secured; and

§  approved the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority recommendation of a new dedicated strategic study for St Ives.

Consideration was given to a report by the Service Manager (Growth) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking endorsement of the outcomes of the A141 and St Ives studies and support for the position that a strategic study for St Ives be undertaken by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning provided an update on the background to the report stating that the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 2036 had identified a need for 20,100 homes and 14,400 new jobs between 2011 and 2036. He then went on to state that North Huntingdon had been identified as an area for growth which would help to achieve the aspirations of the Local Plan. Members welcomed the proposals for bus infrastructure improvements in St Ives which would positively impact the Town and the neighbouring areas.

Having noted the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the results of the A141 Study be endorsed;

(b)  that the results of the St Ives Transport Study be endorsed;

(c)  that the list of proposals identified in the St Ives Study be approved and support for Cambridgeshire County Council in their submission to the Combined Authority for funding, and for consultation and delivery should funding be secured; and

(d)  that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority recommendation of a new dedicated strategic study for St Ives be approved.

Members are to receive a report on the A141 and St Ives Study.

Consideration was given to a report by the Service Manager Growth (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which were appended the findings of the A141 Huntingdon Capacity Study and the St Ives Transport Study.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning informed Members that the studies started in April 2018 and that the aim was to look at ways to increase capacity and unlock areas for growth. In addition, it was noted that where the report mentioned ‘Quick-Wins’ they only related to St Ives. The Service Manager Growth added that the study had identified that there would be problems in unlocking Wyton for growth and therefore the area was not included within the Local Plan.

Councillor Gardener raised a concern over the possibility of a lack of capacity on the B-roads around the A141 once the upgrade had been completed. In response, Members were reassured that phase two of the study would involve more in-depth analysis to ensure the local road network had sufficient capacity to cope. It was noted that this would also include changing prioritisation of some routes to ensure the majority of the traffic was directed where it was intended.

Councillor Dew asked whether the study had considered rerouting Harrison Way in order to make access to St Ives easier. In response, Members were informed that any such suggestions would be considered during a more in-depth St Ives study. The current study only reviewed the current situation and did not look at future capacity.

The Panel supported the contents of the report and

RESOLVED

To recommend that the Cabinet

a)  endorses the results of the A141 Study

b)  endorses the results of the St Ives Transport Study

c)  approves the list of proposals identified in the St Ives study and supports CCC in their submission to the Combined Authority for funding, and for consultation and delivery should funding be secured, and

d)  approves the CPCA recommendation of a new dedicated strategic study for St Ives.