Guy’s September 2010 Portfolio Holder’s Report

Written on June 30, 2011 at 4:07 pm

PORTFOLIO HOLDER’S REPORT TO COUNTY COUNCIL

7 SEPTEMBER 2010

1. STOWMARKET RELIEF ROAD

I have had a longstanding interest in the development of Stowmarket going back to my membership of the old Highways Committee. One of the early highway improvements undertaken by the newly formed Highways Committee was the Stowmarket inner relief road. I was therefore, especially pleased that on Thursday 2 September, in the company of elected representatives, officers, contractors and consultants, I was able to formally open the B1115 Stowmarket Relief Road.

This new road will provide a link for the continuing residential and business developments between the town and the A14. The new road also bridges the River Gipping and the Ipswich to Bury/Norwich railway line, thus removing the need for traffic to regularly queue for long periods at the Station Road level crossing gates.

This new road will bring long awaited and much needed relief for road users and residents and will improve the environment for businesses and residents in many of the town centre streets, which in turn will make a major contribution to the development and economy of this important market town located in the centre of Suffolk.

1. CYCLE TRAINING FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY

Our Road Safety Education team has been expanding the provision of cyclist training across the county to promote safer road use and healthy, active travel.

Over the past 18 months we have increased the provision of Bikeability training – “Cycling Proficiency for the 21st Century” - which adds to the Suffolk Young Cyclist Training provision that is already being resourced and which utilises around 200 volunteers across Suffolk. Bikeability is delivered in a different manner and is funded by Department for Transport grants. After an initial £20,000 grant last year, the Road safety Education team have expanded the Bikeability scheme within Ipswich and have received a grant of £60,000 for 2010/11. This equates to around 1500 students in Year 6 being trained in Bikeability, on top of a further 1500 being trained using the volunteer scheme. The training is delivered by the Road Safety team along with local cycling training companies.

Cycling promotion in the Waveney area is being supported, and part funded, by NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney as part of their work to encourage healthy activity.

1. TOUR OF BRITAIN CYCLE RACE

The Road Safety team is closely involved with promotion and activities around the Tour of Britain cycle race which goes from Bury St Edmunds to Colchester on September 17th 2010. They will be attending events in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Sudbury to promote family cyclist training, road risk management and healthy activity. They will also be working in schools along the route – with particular focus on Haverhill – to promote both the event itself and wider road safety messages.

1. A11 fiveways to thetford

I have stressed the need to Matthew Hancock MP (West Suffolk) for the government to get on with the duelling of the A11 from Fiveways (Mildenhall) to Thetford.

I was pleased to note that Matthew Hancock initiated a debate in Parliament on 27^th July on this matter.  Matthew told Parliament that the economic case for dualling the final section of the A11 was compelling and that this was reflected in the advice from consultants working for the Highways Agency that £134m cost of the project will generate over £19m in indirect taxes, and economic benefits of over £550m for consumers, and £1.1bn for businesses. There are also productivity benefits in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Other MP’s speaking in favour of the dualling included Ben Gummer (Ipswich) and Peter Aldous (Waveney).  I personally gave evidence at the Public Inquiry held last year and strongly argued at that time, that the project would benefit the local and national economy, in particular businesses in the region and help the economic recovery.

The Government accepted that there is a strong economic case for dualling the A11 with the Roads Minister, Mike Penning, indicating that he was impressed by the case. However, no decision can be taken on whether to dual the final stretch of the A11 until the autumn, following the Comprehensive Spending Review, and we are still awaiting the Inspectors Report.

I attended the public meeting at Barton Village Hall on 17 September, organised by the local MP and explained at this meeting how active Suffolk County Council had been in promoting the improvements as well as being instrumental in protecting the rights of non-motorised road users as a consequence of the proposed dualling.

I will continue to work with and support Matthew Hancock MP, the Highways Agency and other elected representatives and organisations to support the case for the early implementation of this essential improvement.

1. regional transport forum

The Regional Transport Forum (RTF) met on the 25 June 2010 to receive       reports on:

• The Coalition Government’s transport priorities, including the future programme for transport, plans to devolve powers to localities and removing powers at the regional level and the future role of the Regional Transport Forum (RTF).  The RTF agreed to send a letter to Government summarising the views of the region on the future role of the Forum and its potential contribution in supporting the economic recovery and transport priorities in the East of England;
• Progress in delivering the regionally based Delivering a Sustainable Transport Strategy (DaSTS) studies and submitting a regional report to Department for Transport. With support from RTF, the regional report recommended that the Network Resilience and Adaptation Study and proposals to update and enhance the East of England transport model be taken forward;
• The Regional Funding Allocation (RFA2) programme, in particular noting that the A130/A13 Sadlers Farm and Luton-Dunstable Busway schemes had been approved. After the meeting RTF was advised that the planned public inquiry into the proposed A5-M1 Link Road had been deferred and;
• Network Rail’s consultation on funds released by Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T grant, rail priorities and Rail Franchise response.  RTF agreed to write to the Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport, supporting the case to implement a double track Ipswich Chord and focus priorities on three strategic rail routes including the Great Eastern Main Line and Felixstowe to Nuneaton. The RTF also advocated that any excess funding arising from successful bids in the future for TEN-T grant to improve the Felixstowe to Nuneaton route, e.g. to implement the Nuneaton Chord, should be recycled back into projects aimed at improving the route.

In addition to the support from RTF for the Ipswich Chord, it is clear from local consultation held earlier this year that there is strong local support for this project and a desire to implement a double track from the outset.

I will continue to work with Network Rail and other relevant organisations to support the case for early implementation of a double track Ipswich Chord.    Network Rail have since confirmed the scheme that they will be promoting will be double tracked.

1. trunk road diversion routes

Over the past year, we have expressed concerns about the proposed arrangements put forward by the Highways Agency for dealing with traffic diverted onto local roads as a result of an incident/accident on the trunk road network.

The Highways Agency recently advised us that a representative will attend a meeting with relevant councillors and representatives of local communities and key stakeholders to explain and receive feedback on their proposals before they are implemented.

This will provide an opportunity to discuss local concerns about the arrangements proposed by the Highways Agency, how this would work in practice and the need for mitigation measures.

It is my intention to chair this meeting, which is likely to be held in the autumn.

1. HAVEN GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP

I welcome the news from the Haven Gateway Partnership that they will support and work with us to identify how we can support the industry’s request for additional secure lorry parking places along the A12 and A14 corridors.  We will work together to lobby for proper facilities for drivers which they rightly deserve.

1. waste core strategy- examination in public

The public hearings into Suffolk County Council’s Waste Core Strategy were held between in July at the IpCity Centre, Wherstead Road Ipswich. The hearings were conducted by Mrs Susan Holland, an Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. These hearings form part of the Examination in Public of the Strategy. The Inspector’s report is due to be received in early October and will be binding on the County Council.

If the Strategy is found to be “sound” then it is intended to report the outcome of the Examination to Council in December.  If accepted by full council, the   Strategy will then be formally adopted. At this stage the Strategy would become part of the Development Plan. The Town & Country Planning Act requires that planning applications for waste development are determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The adopted Strategy will therefore be a significant document in dealing with applications for waste developments in the future. Its significance is likely to be even more important now that the Regional Spatial Strategy has been revoked by Government.

The hearings were relatively lightly attended but individual sessions, especially those relating to sites identified in the Strategy as being potentially suitable for residual waste treatment facilities or for non hazardous landfill, attracted most attention.

1. GODDARD ROAD

Councillors will be aware of the planned move of highways and other services from the depot at Great Blakenham to a new site on Goddard Road, Ipswich, now known as Phoenix House.

I am pleased to say that the move of office staff took place over the weekend of 17 and 18 July with the Suffolk Fleet Maintenance vehicle workshops following a week later.  The Suffolk Highways Contracting works operation will remain at Great Blakenham during August to avoid disrupting the surface dressing operation, and to allow working space at Phoenix House for completion of the new salt barn, which is already well advanced.

Suffolk Fleet Maintenance will soon be joined in the Phoenix House     workshops by the Fire Service vehicle maintenance operation, moving from their current site at Colchester Road Fire Station.  A great example of bringing services together for improved resilience and efficiency.

The new salt barn will hold 50% more salt than the old one at Great      Blakenham.  Following national salt shortages over the last two winters, this extra salt storage capacity will help safeguard our much valued winter gritting operation and also allow the gritting service for Ipswich to move to the site in the future.

1. COPDOCK JUNCTION

As members know, the Copdock junction on the A12/A14/A1214 not only       services two trunk roads (A14 is Strategic) but the A12/A14 is the major road access to our county town.  Under the terms of planning permission granted to the Felixstowe Docks and Railway Company Ltd (SDR) for the extension of port facilities, SDR was obliged to pay for improvements to this junction to      ensure that road traffic conditions were not worsened as a consequence of        implementing the planning permission.

The Highways Agency (HA) is the lead authority in producing the          improvement plans and has now tabled its proposals.     Unfortunately, the HA proposals would make congestion on the A1214 worse and may encourage  rat-running through villages such as Copdock.

As a consequence, Suffolk County Council has been unable to accept the HJA proposals as tabled.  Tim Yeo MP and Ben Gummer MP have written to the HA expressing their support for Suffolk County Council’s stance.

1. SUFFOLK ONE

The Rights of Way Committee met on 17 June to consider the objections to the waiting restrictions around Suffolk One.  Their recommendation was for the through routes to be protected to permit the flow of traffic around the area.  I agreed with the ROW committee and the on-street waiting restrictions around Suffolk One will be in place before the opening for year 12 students on 6             September.

I have asked that Suffolk One ensure that there is a dedicated point of contact for members of the public to advise of any parking issues.  This will be in place prior to the opening of Suffolk One

I have asked for a formal review of parking around the college be carried out in December 2011, when Suffolk One is at full capacity with both year 12 and year 13 students.

1. duke street

Work has started on the scheme to transform the area around Duke Street in Ipswich. This area carries a very large volume of traffic and is the gateway to the town’s waterfront regeneration area and the thriving Education Quarter.        This £3.2 million scheme will introduce traffic signal control in place of the  former roundabout. This will make it possible to manage traffic more efficiently.  Signal operation will also make it possible for buses approaching from the new bus lane on Bishops Hill to get to the front of the traffic queue. The new junction arrangement will provide new, safe pedestrian crossings and will provide better routes for cyclists.  The scheme also includes much needed enhancement to the quality of the urban realm which led to an increase in amenity for local residents.

The scheme also includes new traffic signals at the junction of Back Hamlet    and Foxhall Road to ease traffic flow. The opportunity is also being taken to   resurface the roads in the area that have been affected by the work, including Grimwade Street, Fore Street and Duke Street.

I have asked Ipswich Borough Council, under their Agency Agreement, to carry out local consultations with residents in the nearby streets that may experience additional traffic as a result of the scheme, and to introduce minor traffic management measures to deal with any concerns.

There is a particular issue for car owners who live in Neptune Square/Quay.  Up until the work started, residents returning to their homes by car were able to use the old roundabout to turn back and so gain access. This roundabout has been taken out and the journey as a consequence is about 600 yards longer and when the scheme is finished, will pass through signalled junctions. I appreciate the added inconvenience to residents, but other solutions suggested by the residents and their professional advisor did not pass the road safety audit and could not be implemented.

I am proud of this scheme, which has the full support of Ipswich Borough         Council and which I am sure will further enhance the quality of the built      environment in this part of Ipswich.

13. SAFETY CAMERAS

Members will, no doubt, have read reports that in some parts of England, (e.g. Oxfordshire) safety cameras a have been switched off.  No such actions have been taken in Suffolk.  In Suffolk we have relatively few safety cameras and our focus has always been to place them where they have the maximum affect in reducing road traffic accidents.  However, a final decision about safety cameras and the Roadsafe partnership will be taken once the financial position of the county is known after the announcement in Comprehensive Spending Review in October.

14.       Potholes And Road Repairs

In my report to May Council, I advised of the damage which the severe winter weather had caused to the County’s roads.  Councillors will have been only too aware of the rapid appearance of potholes on our roads and pavements, and the large amount of correspondence that this had generated at the time.

I am pleased to be able to report good progress in dealing with the large        numbers of urgent repairs which had become necessary. This has been helped by the additional £1.5million revenue funding which the Council was able to make available to undertake emergency repairs, and by the additional £1.975million funding provided by Government for permanent repairs. However, we remain concerned at the long term damage caused to the structure of our roads by the penetrating frosts of the last 2 winters. Time will tell as to those longer term effects.

During 2009/10 we received approximately 3,000 reports of potholes from members of public via our call centres and other means (compared with approximately 1800 reports in 2008/9).  Separately, we also identify potholes in the course of our routine highway inspections – these are not identified individually, but repaired on a rolling basis and are much the larger in numbers.  All the potholes that we are aware of and which meet the County Council’s intervention criteria have now been made safe. Wherever possible, we try to achieve permanent repair at first visit.  However, this is not always possible and temporary repairs are put in place. This was particularly the case during the   bad weather when large numbers of potholes were appearing and when wet or icy weather conditions would mean that it would be very difficult to achieve durable repairs.

With the better weather, we are now undertaking our spring/summer round of highway inspections and further repairs are being ordered to ensure the roads and pavements remain safe.  In some cases we have seen extensive damage to individual roads, particularly where there is poor drainage or sub-soil.  Where we can, within the budgets available, we are undertaking more substantial surfacing to strengthen the road structure. However, in most cases, where damage is limited, we are undertaking patch repairs and providing a surface dressing treatment which is the lowest cost form of repair.

Whilst we are confident that we have been able to restore the road network to a safe condition, we are concerned at the longer term effect of the past two winters on the condition of the County’s road network.  However, it is clear that the penetrating frosts have substantially weakened a number of roads.  Road   condition survey investigations are currently under way and these should help us to identify the extent of this damage and monitor the overall deterioration of   the network.