Guy’s December 2010 Portfolio Holder’s Report

Written on June 30, 2011 at 3:59 pm

PORTFOLIO HOLDER’S REPORT TO COUNTY COUNCIL

2 DECEMBER 2010

Portfolio Holder:	Councillor Guy McGregor, Portfolio Holder for Roads, Transport and Planning
Contact Details:	Tel: 01473 264384 Email: guy.mcgregor@suffolk.gov.uk
Portfolio Responsibilities:	Public Transport; Roads; Rail; Ports; Airports; Rights of Way; Spatial Planning, Waste Planning; Coast and Flooding

1. Ipswich – transport fit for the 21st Century

I am delighted to report that subject to final confirmation in January 2011, the County Council’s major transport scheme Ipswich – Transport fit for the 21st Century, is to receive funding from Government.  I met Norman Baker MP, the Minister for Local Transport in Ipswich on 27 October where he made the announcement.

Ipswich – Transport fit for the 21st Century is a £27 million project that will support future growth and economic development in Ipswich. I am very pleased that in a period of financial restraint, the County Council has been able to secure this much needed investment in our county town.

The scheme is a major plank of our sustainable transport strategy for Ipswich. It will provide much better management of existing road space and significant improvements for walking, cycling and public transport which will lead to better health outcomes and greater use of low carbon transport.

The main components of the scheme are:

1. Intelligent Transport Systems:

A computerised urban traffic management and control system will control all the traffic signals within the wider Ipswich area.  A key role for the system will be to provide dynamic bus priority at junctions.  The system will provide better junction efficiency and can help plan for expected and unexpected incidents. It will also include variable message signs for car park occupancy, road closures, traffic information etc. This will be linked to the proposed A14 and A12 information systems.

The intelligent transport package also includes a real time passenger information system for local buses network which will include screen displays at both bus stations, at many stops around the town centre and on bus routes leading into the town centre.

1. Bus Infrastructure Improvements:

Old Cattle Market and Tower Ramparts bus stations will be completely refurbished. There will be increased capacity, safer and more efficient layouts for bus operations, weatherproof waiting areas for passengers, better information and better toilet facilities. There will also be improvements to key bus stops in the central area, providing better waiting and information facilities.

The provision of a new bus service to serve the waterfont, education quarter, railway station and town centre is being considered as a separately funded addition to the scheme.

1. Walking and Cycling Improvements:

The third strand of the scheme is the delivery of excellent walking and cycling networks connecting central areas such as Ipswich Village, the waterfront, education quarter and town centre to each other, to the railway station and bus stations.  The cycling routes provided within the major scheme connect to the wider networks being implemented with LTP funding as part of the delivery of the transport strategy. This strand will include the removal of the roundabout and pedestrian subways at the Princes Street / Civic Drive junction so people can cross at ground level. This change will also enable bus priority and enhance the setting of the Willis building as a gateway to the town centre.

1. Demand Management:

Ipswich – Transport fit for the 21st Century will be accompanied by a separately funded programme to try to change travel behaviour in the town, to reduce reliance on the car. Taken together these measures should significantly reduce future traffic growth in Ipswich.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ben Gummer MP, Daniel Poulter MP and also those involved in the County Council and Ipswich Borough Council for the support they have given to enable this important local project to be accepted by government.

1. A11 Fiveways to Thetford

On the 17 September I attended a meeting organised by Matthew Hancock MP held in Barton Mills Village Hall, to discuss the current status of the A11 Fiveways to Thetford project and consider potential ways to move forward.

I was invited to speak to this meeting and in particular to outline details of the scheme, its benefits and economic appraisal. I was able to reinforce the County Council’s support and commitment for this essential improvement.

Other speakers included Lord Iveagh who commented on the impact on local businesses and Elizabeth Truss MP for South West Norfolk who commented on the wider strategic benefits of the project.

Neither the Department for Transport nor the Highways Agency was represented.

Following the meeting, a letter signed jointly by the Leaders of Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils was sent to the Secretary of State for Transport highlighting the following aspects:

• The County Council’s full support for the MPs calling for the remaining single carriageway stretch of the A11 between Fiveways and Thetford to be dualled;

• Stressing that the scheme has a huge benefit to cost ratio of over 17 and pointing out that it will provide £135 million in wider economic benefits such as increased productivity. That is in addition to the £550 million from the conventional highway scheme assessment;

• Confirming that this project is a long term aspiration of both authorities and has previously been accepted as a high priority project by elected members from across the region;

• Indicating that both authorities gave evidence to the public inquiry in support of this project, which is considered to be a crucial piece of unfinished transport infrastructure that will complete the investment that has been carried out on this route over the past 25 years or more;

• The scheme has very strong support from all key stakeholders including MPs, the business community, local media and the general public, 16,000 of whom have signed a petition supporting it;

• The substantial benefits generated by completing the dualling of the A11 will contribute to the economic recovery and also support businesses and growth within the east of England. Implementation of this project will also support jobs in the construction industry.

• Recognising that although the Inspector’s report into the public inquiry had been submitted, his recommendations were not public knowledge. Nevertheless, faced with the overwhelming weight of evidence in support of the project, it is expected that the outcome is positive and will enable the orders to be approved;

• Dualling the A11 deserves to be given priority because of the very positive impact it will have on the region’s economy by delivering the economic growth necessary to ensure this country continues to recover from the recession;

• A request to allocate the funds necessary to implement this project.

I am pleased to note that on the 20 October the Chancellor announced that as a result of the spending review settlement, the dualling of the A11 between Fiveways and Thetford had been given the go ahead, subject to statutory processes, although subsequent statements from government have indicated that due to the level of funding required for schemes already under construction new projects are unlikely to start before 2012/13.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matthew Hancock MP, his predecessor Richard Spring together with those involved in the County Council and in the region, including Norfolk County Council, for the support they have given to enable this vital project to be taken forward.

1. A14 Copdock Mill Interchange

On the 27 September I chaired a meeting involving elected representatives of local communities in the vicinity of Copdock Mill Interchange to receive a report from the Highways Agency on their proposed modifications to this junction in response to Felixstowe South Reconfiguration and SnOasis developments.

Key issues arising were:

• The Highways Agency’s proposals are relatively modest in scale and intended to ensure that conditions at the interchange will be no worse as a result of the additional traffic generated by these developments. The proposed improvements did not address existing congestion problems or the increase in those problems over time as a result of general traffic growth. Councillors expressed considerable concern about the existing situation and the impact of trunk road traffic diverting onto local roads to avoid congestion and delays on the approaches to the interchange;

• Evidence presented by the Highways Agency, indicated that over time taking into account forecast traffic growth, there will be a substantial increase in queuing, particularly on the A12 and A1214 approaches.  This is in part because the proposed scheme is designed to minimise queuing back onto the main A14 carriageway for safety reasons.  The A12 approach to Copdock is part of a strategic transport corridor connecting London to the Haven Ports and together with the A1214 comprises a major and important gateway into Ipswich. The forecast increase in queuing on the A12 and A1214 approaches carries an inherent risk of significant additional strategic traffic movements diverting onto local roads and affecting local communities and businesses;

• Councillors were disappointed that the Highways Agency scheme removes the existing free flowing left turn lanes at this junction and that the scheme failed to address general traffic issues and concerns; and

• The Highways Agency indicated that although some initial work on a longer term improvement had been carried out, this aspect is now being addressed separately through the London to Haven Ports study. The Highways Agency advised that a longer term solution would take a minimum of 9 years to develop, implement and be opened to traffic.

Local Councillors agreed:

• that there is a clear and urgent need for the Highways Agency to develop and implement a sensible and more comprehensive solution to address current and predicted future traffic problems associated with this interchange; and

• to jointly sign a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond MP, to stress the inadequacy of the interchange and current proposals and the need to start work on developing a longer term solution that is capable of being implemented within a reasonable timeframe and avoid strategic traffic diverting onto local roads.

I indicated that I would organise and invite relevant MP’s together with County, District and Parish Councillors to a follow up meeting to discuss the way forward for longer term improvements to Copdock Interchange with representatives from the Department of Transport and Highways Agency. It is intended that this meeting, which I intend to chair as the relevant Suffolk County Council Portfolio Holder, will enable elected local community representatives to discuss a range of concerns about trunk road related issues in the Ipswich Fringe area.

The evidence presented by the Highways Agency indicated that with the proposed modifications in place and on balance road traffic conditions would not be worse as a consequence of implementing the Felixstowe South Reconfiguration and SnOasis planning permissions. With this in mind the Highways Agency’s proposals were subsequently accepted by the County Council as a short term mitigation to facilitate the Felixstowe South Reconfiguration and SnOasis developments.

Subsequent discussions with the Highways Agency suggest that the proposed works at Copdock (and Dock Spur junction at Felixstowe) will commence immediately after Christmas.

1. Concessionary Travel Scheme

I have been working closely with District Council colleagues within Suffolk to manage the transfer of responsibility for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme from the Districts to the County Council, which will be effective as from the 1 April 2011.

This will be a new statutory duty placed on the County Council and the indicative level of funding from government for the Concessionary Travel scheme in Suffolk indicates that there will be insufficient funding to maintain the current level of discretions that the District Councils have been funding over and above the statutory scheme.

Having considered options, Cabinet agreed that in Suffolk:

• the scheme will not apply to travel before 9:30am, i.e. consistent with the national scheme; although

• pass holders in remote areas will be allowed to travel free on specific buses before 9.30am if there is no other bus services available that morning; and

• the scheme will be enhanced to allow taxi travel vouchers to be issued instead of a pass where a person is unable to use a bus to travel.

Whilst the County Council will fully run the scheme after 1 April 2011, I am pleased to say that the District Councils have agreed to continue to offer information to users of the scheme so that there is a seamless handover of responsibility.

1. Ipswich Park and Ride

As part of budget considerations the Cabinet has decided to save almost one third of the subsidy that the Council puts into the Ipswich Park and Ride scheme.

Various options were evaluated and the closure of the service between the Bury Road site and the Town Centre was considered to have least impact on users of the service. The site is programmed to close in February 2011 and every effort will be made to keep existing and potential users informed about the change.

I am committed to provide viable sustainable travel options for people who travel into Ipswich Town Centre, and the users of the Bury Road site will be encouraged to continue to use bus services including the London Road Park and Ride service a little further along the A14.

I will continue to work closely with Ipswich Borough Council, which owns the Bury Road site, to explore ways of providing high quality commercially viable bus services in the town, perhaps through partnership agreements.

In times of diminishing budgets, the County Council has to make difficult choices, which includes reducing the level of service provided by the County Council. I believe that the action agreed by Cabinet demonstrates a responsible attitude towards reducing costs whilst continuing to provide customers with reasonable alternatives.

1. fresh ways to work

On the 8 October I launched the Fresh Ways to Work project at the University Campus Suffolk Waterfront building.

This project, which is being promoted jointly by Suffolk and HertfordshireCounty Council’s, will benefit from £830,000 European funding to end of March 2013. Over 30 partners and stakeholders from both counties attended the launch.

The project involves:

• Free travel planning service for 80 small and medium sized enterprises in Ipswich and 80 in St Albans (Hertfordshire);

• Innovative journey planning, information and bus ticketing, using mobile phones and internet technologies;

• Easy access to discounted bus tickets and tax reduced bicycles;

• Rewards and incentives linked with the Ipswich Central business improvement district; and

• Journey planning and bus ticketing innovations will also be available to the public.

Potential benefits of this initiative include:

• Supports low carbon economic development and reduces congestion;

• Saves money and CO2;

• Improves health, productivity and retention of staff;

• Encourages behaviour change to sustainable and active travel choices;

• Linked to Ipswich Transport fit for the 21st Century major transport scheme; and

• Provides benefits to large organisations through the Suffolk Sustainable Travel Forum, including British Telecom; Port of Felixstowe; EDF Energy; Ipswich Hospital; West Suffolk Hospital and Waveney District Council.

1. Coordinating major works in the Ipswich and surrounding area

In the autumn of 2009, the County Council initiated a series of meetings to coordinate works in Ipswich and the surrounding area.  The intention was to minimise congestion and delay and impacts on local communities as a result of implementing works carried out by the Highways Agency, the County Council, Ipswich Borough (as agents) and other organisations, in particular Utilities.

In addition, planned events such as the Suffolk Show, Ipswich Town Football Club home matches and also potential impact on Christmas shoppers and local businesses were taken into account to avoid clashes and minimise overall disruption.

A joint web page “Roadworks – Helping you avoid congestion in the Ipswich area”  was created in July 2010 in conjunction with the start of Dukes Street project.  The website provided quick links to the relevant works information on the Ipswich Borough, Highways Agency and County Council websites.

The following projects have been considered:

• Modifications to the Dukes Street junction (Suffolk County Council);

• Wherstead Road Re-Surfacing (Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council) involving night closures;

• Foxhall Road Re-Surfacing (Ipswich Borough Council) involving night closures;

• Improvements to Rope Walk/Grimwade Street (Ipswich Borough Council);

• Orwell Bridge Bearing Replacement (Highways Agency) which is likely to be complete by Christmas;

• Copdock Interchange and Felixstowe Dock Spur Interchange (Highways Agency). Works expected to start in the new year and last for 6 months;

• A14 Technology Scheme (Highways Agency/Birse). Commissioning expected by end of January 2011;

• A137 Brantham Hill resurfacing (Suffolk County Council). Resurfacing under road closure and planned to avoid conflict with Orwell Bridge/Copdock works.

1. trunk road diversion routes

On the 1 December I chaired a meeting involving representatives of local communities throughout Suffolk, neighbouring authorities, and key stakeholders to receive a report from the Highways Agency on their proposals for dealing with traffic diverted off the trunk road network in the event of an incident/emergency.

This follows a request from the Highways Agency to each local authority to sign a supplementary and detailed local operating agreement relating to the arrangements for diverting motorway and trunk road traffic onto a local highway authority’s network. There is widespread concern about the proposed agreement.

Inherent within this proposed agreement is the identification of pre-planned and designated diversion routes which the Highways Agency argue “will enable diverted traffic to be managed more effectively through an Local Highways Authority (LHA) road network, therefore minimising disruption and facilitating its efficient and timely passage back onto Agency roads”.

The intention was to identify a single diversion route for each section of trunk road and to sign these routes with appropriate symbols, i.e. triangle, square, circle or diamond.

The intention of the meeting was to ensure that the proposal to introduce signed emergency local diversion routes are fully appreciated; to ensure that SCC understands the views of local community representatives; and to enable the County Council to take a view on the appropriate way forward.

Relevant considerations included:

• Discussion at Roads and Transport Scrutiny Committee including the recommendation to investigate the feasibility of multiple sets of diversion routes for those sections of trunk road most often closed to traffic;

• A study instigated by the Department for Transport and led by Professor Peter Landshoff (Cambridge University) on improving transport information systems, including the effect on nearby towns of incidents on a nearby Highways Agency road;

• Concerns expressed by local communities including specific capacity problems at Newmarket (Clock Tower junction); the diversion route through Sproughton; relationship to Operation Stack and the impact on rural roads and on local communities. This issue was also raised by a local resident at the recent A11 Fiveways to Thetford meeting organised by Matthew Hancock MP; and

• Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk County Council officer views and discussions with the Highways Agency and their service providers.

The following were involved: County/District/Parish Councillors; representatives of local communities; Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company; haulage operators; representatives of the Haulage Industry e.g. Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association; motoring organisations; Suffolk Constabulary and neighbouring Highway Authorities.

All Suffolk MPs have been kept informed.

1. regional transport forum

The Regional Transport Forum (RTF) met on the 10 September 2010 to receive reports on:

• the launch of the Eastern Highways Alliance (EHA) aimed at helping Highway Authorities to improve highway services in the East of England and deliver efficiency savings. Suffolk is a founding member;

• shared services from the Programme Director of Regional Cities East;

• the Changing Scene of Sub-National Government and in particular Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). I was able to put forward the position in Suffolk including the importance of Cambridgeshire as the economic driver, the Haven Gateway and growth in offshore energy. A further report on LEPs will be considered at the next meeting of the Forum in December;

• the Plugged in Places government led initiative. It was agreed that officers from Luton and Cambridge will represent RTF on the ‘Plugged in Places’ Steering Group;

• the European Commission’s TEN-T Consultation document on the future of the Trans-European Transport Network from the European Partnership Office;

• Local Transport Plan 3 and the Department for Transport’s consultation on the Integrated Transport and Highway Maintenance block allocations;

• DfT Consultation on Reforming Rail Franchising and Network Rail Consultation on East Coast Mainline 2016.

Concern was also expressed by Councillors about changes to the concessionary fares scheme and related budget problems.

1. Joint Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council meeting

On the 9 September, I met Norfolk County Councillor Adrian Gunson, Cabinet Member for Travel and Transport to discuss cross boundary and other issues of common interest and importance to both authorities.

Topics discussed included:

• Major Schemes, including A11 Fiveways to Thetford, A11 Fiveways Grade separation, Long Stratton Bypass and Brandon Relief Road;

• Issues to be discussed at the Regional Transport Forum;

• Public Transport Issues including East Anglia Franchise, access and car parking at Diss Station and concessionary bus travel; and

• Trunk Road Off Network Diversion Routes.

1. A12 Alliance

The A12 Alliance met on the 16 August 2010 to receive:

• A report on the potential impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). It was noted that the Coalition Government had confirmed the funding of a number of schemes including work to Sadlers Farm, although Government funding for the A12 proposals is still to be confirmed;

• A progress report from DfT on the London to Haven Gateway Study National Networks DaSTS Study.  DfT advised that they will continue to work with Essex County Council, Suffolk County Council and the Highways Agency but cannot go into detailed consultation until after the CSR. The Chairman of the A12 Alliance, Cllr Norman Hume (Essex) subsequently sent a letter to the Secretary of State stressing the importance of work to improve the A12;

• A progress report from the Essex Police and Essex County Council on the A12 Patrols, including details of breakdowns on the A12, the complex nature of dealing with serious collisions on the A12 due to the central reservation and rerouting of traffic, the economic benefit of the A12 Patrols and reduction in congestion since the introduction of the patrols.

A report from the Highways Agency, including the capital and revenue costs of HA project, the development of detailed business cases and the A14 Technology Project;

12.       NATIONAL STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

National Strategic Infrastructure Projects (IPC) are those that are currently likely to be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission. It is the Government’s intention to scrap this organisation and for decisions to be taken by the appropriate Secretary of State. However, it will be some time before any necessary legislation is enacted and in the meantime the IPC will continue with its functions.

The County Council is currently dealing with five proposals which will ultimately be going to the IPC, more we think than any other council in the country. The Council has a key role as a “statutory authority” and is seen, along with the appropriate district council, as being able to represent the interests of the local communities both in the lead up to the submission of proposals to the IPC and then in any inquiry that is held.

The five schemes that we are currently aware of are:

• A twin nuclear reactor at Sizewell;
• A new power line from Bramford to Twinstead (south of Sudbury);
• The landside implications of a new offshore windfarm off the Suffolk/Essex coast;
• The landside implications of the major new offshore wind array off the Suffolk/Norfolk coast;
• A new railway linking the East Suffolk Line and the Norwich mainline as part of the Felixstowe to Nuneaton freight route.

The majority of these schemes are energy related and guidance for these will be given in National Policy Statements. The first draft of these statements were considered by Cabinet earlier in the year and views were submitted to the Government. There is now a further re-consultation on these documents and I will be bringing a report on this to Cabinet in January 2011.

Earlier in the year, the principle of entering into a Planning Performance Agreement with EDF Energy (developers of Sizewell C), and Suffolk Coastal District Council was accepted by Cabinet. This would provide recompense to the local authorities for the very considerable amount of work that they are likely to be required to undertake in assessing the implications of this major scheme. This Agreement has now been completed and is now in place. We will be looking for similar agreements with other developers in appropriate circumstances.

With regard to the work on Sizewell, one of the key focuses for the County Council is on the transport implications. We will be expecting the developers to produce a transport plan which seeks to provide the most sustainable approach to both the construction and operational period of the power station. However the County Council has clearly stated as part of these discussions that improvements aimed at resolving traffic problems on the A12 through the four villages of Farnham, Stratford St Andrew, Marlesford and Little Glemham remain a political priority and are an essential prerequisite to enable the EDF Energy proposals for Sizewell C to take place.

I believe that the overall volume of traffic using this section of A12, particularly heavy goods vehicles, is causing significant quality of life problems and concerns including safety, community severance and noise.  Improvements are clearly desirable and long overdue.

The support of the wider community and elected representatives in particular is vital in order to secure improvements to the A12 as part of the proposed Sizewell C development. The following sets out the key stages and hence how this support can be put into practice:

1. Government has implemented a “front loaded” process which aims to ensure that as many issues as possible are resolved before an application is submitted. Hence it will be important to be fully involved throughout the process for determining the EDF proposals for Sizewell C, ensuring that as far as possible issues are resolved before the Public Inquiry;

1. Stage 1 Consultation is expected to set out options for mitigating the impact of the proposed development. There will be opportunities before, during and indeed after the Stage 1 Consultation to influence EDF Energy and their proposals for Sizewell C.

1. Stage 2 Consultation will confirm the specific proposals EDF Energy intends to take forward and will follow Stage 1 Consultation probably by at least 6 months. Again there will be opportunities to influence EDF Energy. It will be important to ensure that the “right” proposal is taken forward through the Public Inquiry process as it will be difficult to “add” schemes afterwards;

1. EDF Energy to submit their preferred proposals for Sizewell C: Under current arrangements EDF Energy would submit their proposals for Sizewell C to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), but legislation may change before EDF Energy reach this position;

1. Proposals for Sizewell C to be advertised for a 6 week period: Opportunity to object and make representations to the IPC;

1. Public Inquiry: The local authorities will have the right to submit a Local Impact Report and to be represented at the inquiry ;

1. Under the current legislation, the IPC would make a decision on the proposal. However if the legislation is changed, it is likely that a report would be submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for final decision: There may be opportunities throughout this process to influence the Secretary of State.

I have offered a briefing meeting with appropriate MPs and local Councillors to discuss this further.

The Sizewell C development proposals could include the establishment of a freight concentration depot closer to the trunk road network. The County Council is exploring the possibility of any such facility being in the Ipswich Area and what role, if any, this might fulfil after the construction period.

13.       TEN-T application – Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company

Earlier this year, I was pleased to provide a letter in support of the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company’s TEN-T application for financial support to develop a new North Rail Terminal at the Port of Felixstowe through the TEN-T Annual Work Programme for 2010.

The proposals put forward by Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company will enable the Port:

• to handle longer freight trains and hence increase capacity immediately;

• to accommodate an increase in the movement of containerised traffic as the national rail network is improved and enable an increase in inter-modal transfer between the low carbon modes of ship and rail;

• to support a mode shift from road to rail (TEN-T Priority Axis 26 and TEN-T Priority Axis 13) and in particular allow the full utilisation of Priority Axis 26;

• to deliver an integrated and environmentally friendly transport system for the movement of freight movements to and from the Port;

• to reduce lorry moves on the A14 trunk road bottleneck (TEN-T Priority Axis 13);

• to reduce sensitive lorry miles and increase movement by rail (TEN-T Priority Axis 26); and

• to reduce harmful emissions associated with freight transport and hence support both UK Government and EU objectives.

The delivery of this project is expected to contribute significant economic, social and environmental benefits to the Region and beyond. I hope that support from the European Commission will allow this important EU, UK and Regional project to be delivered speedily in line with the timescales proposed by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.

14.       HAMILTON ROAD SHARED SPACE SCHEME – FELIXSTOWE

I am pleased to report that the latest phase of the Felixstowe Town Centre improvements, the Hamilton Road Shared Space scheme is now complete. The road was opened up to traffic on the 12 November. This project has involved providing a level block paved surface across the full width of the road, with an attractive seating area and new street furniture. Previously this road was dominated by parked cars, and had a poor road safety record compared to other similar shopping streets in Suffolk. We have limited parking to 3 bays for disabled parking, which also provide loading bays for the shops which do not have rear access. The scheme was designed by engineers and planners from the Economy, Skills and Environment directorate, and has been constructed to a very high quality standard by Suffolk Highways Contracting.

I am also very please to advise that the Haven Gateway Partnership have awarded us funding to complete the ‘missing link’ between Orwell Road and Bent Hill. This award was made due to Suffolk County Council’s very good record on scheme delivery, as some other competing schemes had failed to deliver within the required timescales.

The new section of Hamilton Road will be started early in 2011. This project will use materials complimentary to the adjacent shared space projects, but will retain the traditional highway features and the current parking arrangements. We will be providing a block paved feature at the junction of Victoria Street to further link to the design elements used on the earlier phases of the project.

This final phase of the current Felixstowe improvement project will be completed by the end of March 2011.

15.       SATISFACTION WITH HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SERVICE IN SUFFOLK

I am very pleased to report some highlights of Suffolk’s performance within a national survey of customer satisfaction with highways and transport services.

Suffolk is ranked first out of nine East of England authorities and fourth out of 24 County Councils for ‘Overall Satisfaction with Highways and Transport’.

The National Highways and Transportation Public Satisfaction Survey is a postal survey carried out independently by Ipsos MORI.

This year the number of authorities involved has risen to 95 of which 24 were County Councils; including all of our neighbours.

The fundamental purpose of this benchmarking survey is to help highway and transport authorities to improve their service.

Public perception is showing a general improvement on nearly all Key Benchmarking Indicators and Suffolk is ranked in the top five county councils for 16 of the 26 Key Benchmarking Indicators.

Suffolk has scored particularly well in relation to ‘Accessibility’, ‘Rights of Way’ and ‘Street Lighting’ and is ranked highly in the themes of ‘Walking and Cycling’, ‘Tackling Congestion’ and ‘Highway Maintenance and Enforcement’’.

Interestingly the public considered ‘Highway Condition’ to be the most important of the key highway and transportation issues, and the one with which they were least satisfied.  However, Suffolk ranked first among the nine authorities in the East of England and third out of 24 nationally on this key issue.

16.       DefRa MINISTER’S VISIT

Richard Benyon MP, the Minister responsible for Natural Environment and Fisheries within the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs visited the East Anglian coast on the 3 September.  I joined him with other local Councillors and MPs for an open discussion at the Orbis Centre in Lowestoft on a range of issues relevant to the future management of the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline.

The Minister was pleased to hear of the approaches to coast management being taken in Norfolk and Suffolk and the leading roles being taken by local authorities with the Pathfinder and Suffolk Coastal Futures initiatives.

I and other local councillors stressed that Norfolk and Suffolk local authorities are willing to:

• meet the challenges of climate change and increased flood risk and coastal erosion; and

• take on a leadership role with the local community in taking forward an integrated approach to coast management.

However to do so the local authorities stressed the need for:

• better communication and direct working with DEFRA;

• more realistic time horizons for strategic coast planning;

• greater flexibility in the use of funding streams; and

• most importantly reduced bureaucracy in gaining approval for coastal defence schemes.

We hope to arrange a follow up meeting with the Minister at Westminster.

17.       A12 Flood Mitigation Measures – Blythburgh

The A12 at Blythburgh is liable to tidal flooding, the last major incident being in November 2007.  Flooding will become increasingly likely, both as a consequence of the Environment Agency’s strategy for the Blyth estuary and climate change.  It was recognised that the Agency’s strategy took little account of the costs of defending this important road and hence Suffolk County Council were awarded £1.846million to undertake works to alleviate the disruption caused by flooding.  Our initial proposal was to raise the level of the road and provide bunding either side of the road.

However, the local community asked me to consider an alternative proposal which was perceived to represent an opportunity to help protect the Blyth valley from the impact of tidal flooding and rising sea levels and to help sustain the viability of Southwold harbour.  This proposal would involve the construction of a new river wall on the seaward side of the A12, together with a sluice on the river Blyth itself. I agreed to investigate this option and have recently had a meeting with all interested parties including local MPs to share the information we have obtained about the technical feasibility, level of flood protection and wider impacts, including the need for further environmental studies of the both options.

I have a real dilemma – the Council has the funds and ability to undertake the road raising option within the next twelve months.  This would not require further environmental consents and would deliver the required flood alleviation to the road, but would not deliver any wider benefits to the local community.  On the other hand, there are a number of difficulties with the sluice option – not least of which is whether we could obtain the necessary consents in relation to the Habitats Regulations as well as find additional funding for this, more expensive, option.

I am now taking advantage of help offered by local MP, Therese Coffey, to seek clarity from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Caroline Spelman MP) to ascertain whether we can satisfy the environmental constraints associated with the sluice option without undue costs and delays.  If so, I will be happy to progress this option.  Whatever the outcome, this option could not be put in place until autumn 2012 at the earliest.

18.       Essex and South Shoreline Management Plan

The Essex and South Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) covering the Stour and Orwell estuaries in Suffolk has been subject to widespread public consultation and is now going through the process of adoption by local authorities and the Environment Agency – subject to the Secretary of State agreeing to its compliance with the Habitats Regulations.  The Cabinet endorsed the plan on 9 November.

The main implications for the County Council in the long term, are loss of properties and land where the coast is eroding, increased flooding risks and changes to the natural environment and landscape – the latter particularly related to potential managed realignment schemes at Shotley and Trimley.  Of particular concern is how to cope with the increasing flood risk to the B1456 at The Strand, Wherstead, which is the main route into the Shotley Peninsular.

19.       Community project at Shotley Gate to control cliff erosion

For almost a year I have been working for the local community in Shotley Gate to find a solution to the cliff erosion which threatens a number of properties, amenity woodland and footpaths.  The situation is unique in that the normal coastal responsibilities do not apply (due to a quirk in the Coast Protection Act boundary), leaving the community without access to funding to protect this vulnerable area.  The Council were among a number of partners who helped to develop the project and contributed to the first phase of works, which has just been completed.  A second phase, involving protection of a further 110 metres of cliff, is planned for autumn 2011, subject to further funding.

20.       Flood and Water Management Act 2010

Implementation of this Act, which received Royal Assent in April 2010, has been slower than expected and thus many of the new duties and responsibilities for the Council contained in the Act have yet to take full effect, although we are undertaking much of the background preparation ahead of the regulations.  The Council is already taking the lead role within the Suffolk Flood Risk Partnership assessing the risk of surface water flooding across the county and investigating significant problems.  The Partnership is jointly funding and delivering a number of schemes to alleviate local flooding problems – two projects that have been completed recently being in Beyton, near the A14 junction, and in Rushmere St Andrew.

21.       Regional Flood Defence Committee/Regional Flood & Coastal Committees

I regularly attend the Regional Flood Defence Committee and have begun our annual negotiations with the Environment Agency and neighbouring County Councils regarding the flood defence levy payments.  The levy is essential for funding flood and coastal defence schemes that do not meet the criteria for national funding.

As part of the new Flood and Water Management Act the RFDC will be replaced by a new Regional Flood and Coastal Committee next year.  The new committee will have an expanded remit to cover coastal erosion as well as flood defence.  On behalf of the RFDC I attended a meeting with Defra to discuss the details around the role and membership of these new committees.

22.       Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

The Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee will be replaced by a new body, the Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority as part of the Marine and Coastal Access Act.  The new body has just had its first meeting and will be run alongside the old Sea Fisheries Committee until fully vested in April 2011.  As well as its current responsibilities and enhanced powers in relation to inshore fisheries management the new committee will have a wider responsibility for conservation of the marine environment, particularly the new Marine Conservation Zones which are currently under development.  The Council has two members on this committee of 21.

23.       ARCHAEOLOGY

I had the opportunity over the last two months to visit two interesting archaeological excavations in the county. The Aldeburgh and District Local History Society were awarded a ‘Your Heritage’ grant, by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to excavate at Barber’s Point, Friston, near Aldeburgh, where previous excavation had revealed Roman and Anglo-Saxon occupation being eroded by the River Alde. The excavations, which were supervised by our own archaeological service staff, involved a large number of local volunteers from the Society. It revealed a large ditched enclosure and within it was an Anglo-Saxon building and some human burials. This might be an eighth century church perhaps related to St Botolph’s seventh century monastery across the river at Iken.  Many local school children visited the site and there was an open day for the public.

The other excavation was on one of our own developments at the Westfield School replacement site at Chalkstone Way, Haverhill. The current fieldwork, undertaken by our own archaeological contracting team, began in June 2010 and covers an area of approximately 1.2 hectares. Three ring ditches have been recorded. Two are currently interpreted as burial monuments (round barrows), whilst the third smaller one could have a domestic function. The features have been provisionally dated to the Early/Middle Iron Age. This makes the site significant as round barrows of that date would be unique to Suffolk, and therefore of regional if not national importance. Other activity includes several cremations, and a number of boundary ditches of prehistoric date. All pupils from years 3 and 4 who will move into the new school visited the site before their summer holidays. The site has now been handed over, on time, to the developers.