Agenda item

The Chair of the Planning Policy Committee, Councillor Bower, will present recommendations from the Special Meeting of the Planning Policy Committee held on 7 December 2022.

 

          The recommendations for Council to consider are set out below:

 

·      Minute 507 [A Response to the National Highways A27 Arundel Further Consultation]. The minutes along with the Officer’s report is attached.

 

         

          The Chair of the Planning Policy Committee, Councillor Bower, presented recommendations from the Special Meeting of the Planning Policy Committee held on 7 December 2022.

         

          Councillor Bower alerted Councillors to a series of recommendations at Minute 507 [A Response to the National Highways A27 Arundel, Further Consultation] explaining that National Highways had undertaken supplementary consultation regarding its proposals to improve the A27 by building a bypass around Arundel. The Special Meeting of the Planning Policy Committee had been informed of the content of the consultation, which had strictly related to matters relating to Walberton, and had been invited to respond to this consultation by the deadline date of 16 December 2022. In debating the consultation, the Committee felt that it was important for all Members of the Council to be able to respond to the consultation as this was a matter that affected the entire district.  The Committee’s response had therefore been recommended onto Full Council.  The decision of the Committee had been submitted to National Highways so as to meet its consultation’s deadline, but it had been submitted as an interim conclusion subject to debate and any decision made by this Full Council meeting.  Councillor Bower then proposed the recommendations which were then seconded by Councillor Hughes.

 

 

 

 

          In proposing the recommendations, Councillor Bower confirmed that he was concerned that the recommendations from the Committee had an air of conditionality about them and well as slight negativity.  As Councillor Bower did not wish this Council to fall into the same position as Chichester District Council, who had been slightly negative at what was being proposed for the A27 around Chichester, it had been interpreted that they did not wish to pursue the improvements around that area. Councillor Bower’s view was this it was vital for this Council to confirm its determination to pursue the proposals for the A27 and to ensure that the future economy of Arun would gain the benefit of the by-pass as this was what this Council had been fighting for, for decades. Incidents just this week where the A27 had been closed in two locations at the same time had highlighted the major issues with the surrounding road network south of the A27 and this had confirmed how the improvements were desperately needed.

 

          Councillor Bower then confirmed that he wished to make amendments to some of the recommendations which he explained.

 

          The amendments proposed are set out below – with additions shown using bold any deletions shown using strikethrough:

 

1.              The Council’s stronglysupportsfor the grey route butisconditional remains concernedby the perceived on satisfactory mitigation to reduce rat running through Walberton and other local roads. The Council does not consider have confidence that the rat-running issue has been satisfactorily resolved and also asks that National Highways review the veracity of their conclusions in light of the traffic survey data commissioned by Walberton Parish Council;  

 

2.              The Council supports the provision of a bat crossing at Tye Lane;  

 

3.     The Council views the exercise value of a round of golf as an important part of its health and wellbeing package for the district and would like to see golf (option 1 or option 2) retained at this location (not par 3 pitch and putt which had minimal exercise value);  

4.     The Council supports the proposed changes to the Crossbush Junction;  

5.     For the avoidance of doubt the Council supports the offline solution to bridging the proposed road at Yapton Lane;  

6.       The magenta route remains this Council’s preferred solution withsupport for the grey route is conditional on the inclusion of a junction with Ford Road and the new A27 and . That we draw the attention of National Highways to the potential to reduce rat running by taking forward the Ford Road A27 junction as previously proposed. 

 

          Councillor Gunner then seconded these amendments.

 

          The Chair then invited debate on these amendments. Some Councillors confirmed that they could not endorse these amendments as they saw them as a step back for the Council. The support for the grey route needed to be conditional in terms of the inclusion of a junction with Ford Road. This was seen as vital to this project working and being a success.  Instead, National Highways had proposed a route that was not supported and cost the most, the difference between the grey route and magenta route would have paid for the Ford Road junction based on the costings provided and from the independent review undertaken. The Council needed the A27 extended but how could the Council support a route which was completely against what the Council had confirmed earlier.

 

           It was felt that the amendment to Recommendation (6) was completely unnecessary. There were other Councillors, especially Members of the Planning Policy Committee, who could not understand why further amendments were being proposed when the Committee had unanimously agreed its recommendations following thorough debate. It was felt that Councillor Bower’s amendments changed the spirit of the Committee’s recommendations. 

 

          Further reservations were expressed about the Chair of the Committee changing the recommendations presented.  It was pointed out that this consultation was not just about Walberton but was also about amendments to the Crossbush Junction and specifically about the Avisford Park Golf Course. To start reintroducing references to the Magenta route at this stage, when it had been off for the table for a long time,  was unhelpful, there was only one option which was the grey route with no other route alternatives. There were many Councillors who strongly objected to the removal of Recommendation (3), which had been a well thought out part of the consultation, and they asked to see the evidence to back up why it should be removed. 

 

          Further debate in support of the amendments took place and focused upon the economic repercussions for the district if an offline bypass was not delivered. The Government was willing to invest hundreds of millions into the area. In response the Council needed to support the amendments and emphasise the need for the bypass which would provide significant improvements for businesses and private travel locally as well as all other parts of the Southeast.  This was one of the most significant investment opportunities for the district and so the Council could not lose the opportunity of obtaining that investment. Many concerns raised by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and had been highlighted by this Council but many of these would be addressed in the DCO application process undertaken by an independent inspector. It was important for all of these issues to be fully considered and for WSCC and Arun to be united in getting the best opportunity to highlight the rat running issues which needed to be addressed but would be by the inspector.  This infrastructure was needed to secure the district’s economic future and the Council could not run the risk of losing this investment by using the word conditional.

 

          Councillors expressing a different view explained that the Council needed to express conditional support for the grey route and upon satisfactory mitigation to reduce rat running.  The Council needed to be robust in defending its residents and pushing forward with a robust response to include development proposals for golf courses as part of the district’s leisure package. The Council needed to be sure and not bullied into accepting that the rat running issues had been resolved.

 

          Councillor Gunner, as seconder to the amendments, reconfirmed the points made by those supporting the amendments and that this involved needing to think carefully about the use of conditional support.

 

          A recorded vote had been requested for each of the amendments. 

 

          For the amendment to Recommendation 1, those voting for it were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Chace, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Daniells, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Goodheart, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton, Rhodes and Staniforth (20).  Those voting against were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Blanchard-Cooper, Brooks, Buckland, Coster, Dixon, Haywood, Jones, Lury, McAuliffe, Needs, Northeast, Oppler, Roberts, Smith, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Yeates (22). Councillor Staniforth abstained from voting (1).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (1) was therefore declared as being NOT CARRIED.

 

          For the amendment to Recommendation (3), those voting for it were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Chace, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Daniells, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, Goodheart, Gunner, Kelly, Northeast, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton, Rhodes and Staniforth (19).  Those voting against were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Blanchard-Cooper, Brooks, Buckland, Coster, Dixon, Haywood, Jones, Lury, McAuliffe, Needs, Oppler, Smith, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Yeates (20). Councillors English, Hughes, Roberts and Stainton abstained from voting (4).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (3) was therefore declared as being NOT CARRIED.

 

          For the amendment to Recommendation (6), those voting for it were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Gunner, Kelly, Northeast, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton, Rhodes and Staniforth (15). Those voting against were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Blanchard-Cooper, Buckland, Coster, Dixon, English, Jones, Lury, Needs, Oppler, Roberts, Smith, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Years (19).  Councillors Brooks, Chace, Daniells, Mrs English, Goodheart, Haywood, Hughes, McAuliffe and Stainton abstained from voting (9).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (6) was therefore declared as being NOT CARRIED.

 

          The Chair then returned to the substantive recommendations. Councillor McAuliffe confirmed that he wished to make amendments to the substantive recommendations by adding more detail.

 

          The Chair then called a short adjournment so that the detail of the amendments could be confirmed.  The meeting then resumed.

 

          Councillor McAuliffe then proposed his amendments. 

 

          The amendments proposed are set out below – with additions shown using bold any deletions shown using strikethrough:

 

1.   The Council’s support for the grey route is conditional on satisfactory mitigation to reduce rat running. The Council does not have confidence that the rat-running issue has been satisfactorily resolved. and also asks that National Highways review the veracity of their conclusions in light of the traffic survey data commissioned by Walberton Parish Council; The Council asks National Highways to review the veracity of existing traffic models in light of traffic survey data commissioned by Walberton Parish Council and National Highways’ own data that highlight the disparities between models and real-time data.  Solutions that avoid adverse traffic impacts for the entirety of Walberton and adjacent villages including currently un-modelled link roads around Fontwell, Barnham and Eastergate should be presented. 

 

2.  The Council supports the provision of a bat bridge design which is supported by scientific evidence and Natural England Green Bridge Guidance and is likely to achieve positive conservation outcomes for those species known to be present.  National Highways are requested to provide design updates that conform to these criteria crossing at Tye Lane;

 

3.  The Council views the exercise value of a round of golf as an important part of its health and wellbeing package for the district and would like to see golf (option 1 or option 2) retained at this location (not par 3 pitch and putt which had minimal exercise value) along with the important community facilities provided by the existing golf course that serve the wider population in addition to golf club members.

 

4.  National Highways are requested to amend designs in order to avoid foreseeable congestion on the northbound A284 and to include measures that avoid southbound delays at the proposed Causeway/A27 junction. It is also requested that plans for compulsory purchase of land to facilitate the new design, but expected to adversely affect local business interests, be reviewed. The Council supports the proposed changes to the Crossbush Junction;

 

5.  For the avoidance of doubt the Council supports the offline solution to bridging the proposed road at Yapton Lane;

 

6.  The Council’s support for the grey route is conditional on the inclusion of a junction with Ford Road and the new A27. That we draw the attention of National Highways to the potential to reduce rat running by taking forward the Ford Road A27 junction as previously proposed.

 

Councillor McAuliffe having proposed his amendments then provided a summary explaining their need. Regarding the bat bridge, the amendment to (Recommendation (2), there was no scientific evidence that supported the efficacy of the bridge proposed. National Highways had put forward a bat bridge that was 5 metres wide. The Natural England recommendation concluded that no bridge less than 20 metres in width could be recommended. Furthermore, this bridge had only be used once in the country on a completely different scale of road, which was an unlit single carriage way road serving 10,000 vehicles. This would not be suitable for the A27 and would not achieve effective mitigation. In addressing Recommendation (3), the golf course was a community hub and was not just for members it provided facilities for others to use in the local community. There were people who lived in Walberton with limited mobility and limited access to transport and relied on the facilities provided by the golf club, even if this was not the golf course itself. The facilities provided an important public function and needed to be maintained. Regarding Crossbush, it was necessary to raise the issue of compulsory purchase to facilitate the new design on that end of the route. This was not supported by the landowners and there were concerns that it would adversely impact business interests in the Crossbush/Lyminster area. Given that one of the main proposals was for the economic improvement in the Arun valley it would be a shame if at the first hurdle this was not supported by Council.

 

Councillor Thurston then seconded these amendments.

 

          The Chair then invited debate on these amendments which saw a range of Councillors speaking for and against them. Those speaking in support confirmed that the amendments added considerable clarity. It was highlighted that for the amendment to Recommendation (3) it was vital to continue to provide the community facilities at the current golf club. Regarding the bat bridge [Recommendation 2], Members would be guided by the scientific evidence provided accepting what was best practice and the need to have a bridge that accorded with best practice and guidance.

 

          Those speaking against Recommendation (1) held great concern over the word conditional, hoping that a further amendment could be made later to remove this.

 

          A recorded vote had been requested for each of the amendments. 

 

          Those voting for the amendment to Recommendation (1) were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Bicknell, Blanchard-Cooper, Brooks, Buckland, Chace, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Coster, Dixon, Edwards, Mrs English, Goodheart, Gunner, Haywood, Hughes, Jones, Kelly, Lury, McAuliffe, Needs, Northeast, Oliver-Redgate, Oppler, Roberts, Smith, Stainton, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Yeates (34). Those voting against were Councillors Bower, Chapman, Dendle, Elkins (4).  Councillors Daniells, English, Pendleton, Rhodes and Staniforth abstained from voting (5).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (1) was therefore declared as CARRIED.

 

          Those voting for the amendment to Recommendation (2) were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Bicknell, Blanchard-Cooper, Bower, Brooks, Buckland, Chace, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Coster, Dixon, Edwards, Mrs English, Goodheart, Haywood, Jones, Lury, McAuliffe, Needs, Oliver-Redgate, Oppler, Pendleton, Smith, Stainton, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Yeates (31).  Those voting against were Councillors Daniells and Dendle (2). Councillors Cooper, Elkins, English, Gunner, Hughes, Kelly, Northeast, Rhodes, Roberts, and Staniforth abstained from voting (10).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (2) was therefore declared as CARRIED.

 

          Those voting for the amendment to Recommendation (3) were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Blanchard-Cooper, Brooks, Buckland, Coster, Dixon, Haywood, Hughes, Jones, Lury, McAuliffe, Needs, Oppler, Smith, Stainton, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Yeates (22).  Those voting against were Councillors Bicknell, Chace, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Daniells, Dendle, Edwards, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Goodheart, Gunner, Kelly, Northeast, Oliver-Redgate, Roberts and Staniforth (18).  Councillors Bower, Pendleton and Rhodes abstained from voting (3).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (3) was therefore declared as CARRIED.

 

          Those voting for the amendment to Recommendation (4) were Councillors Batley, Bennett, Blanchard-Cooper, Brooks, Buckland, Chace, Coster, Dixon, Haywood, Hughes, Jones, Lury, McAuliffe, Needs, Oppler, Roberts, Smith, Stainton, Thurston, Tilbrook, Wallsgrove, Walsh, Worne and Yeates (24). Those voting against were Councillors Bicknell, Bower, Chapman, Mrs Cooper, Cooper, Daniells, Dendle, Elkins, Mrs English, English, Goodheart, Kelly, Oliver-Redgate, Pendleton and Staniforth (15). Councillors Edwards, Gunner, Northeast and Rhodes abstained from voting (4).

 

          The amendment to Recommendation (4) was therefore declared as CARRIED.

 

          The Chair then returned to the substantive recommendations and invited debate.

 

          Councillor Pendleton confirmed that she wished to make amendments to Recommendations (1) and (6) which she formally proposed.

 

          The amendments proposed are set out below – with additions shown using bold any deletions shown using strikethrough:

 

             

1.    The Council’s supports for the grey route but calls for is conditional on satisfactory mitigation to reduce rat running. The Council does not have confidence that the rat-running issue has been satisfactorily resolved. The Council asks National Highways to review the veracity of existing traffic models in light of traffic survey data commissioned by Walberton Parish Council and National Highways’ own data that highlight the disparities between models and real-time data.  Solutions that avoid adverse traffic impacts for the entirety of Walberton and adjacent villages including currently un-modelled link roads around Fontwell, Barnham and Eastergate should be presented;

 

2.  The Council supports the provision of a bat bridge design which is supported by scientific evidence and Natural England Green Bridge Guidance and is likely to achieve positive conservation outcomes for those species known to be present.  National Highways are requested to provide design updates that conform to these criteriaat Tye Lane;

 

3.  The Council views the exercise value of a round of golf as an important part of its health and wellbeing package for the district and would like to see golf (option 1 or option 2) retained at this location (not par 3 pitch and putt which had minimal exercise value) along with the important community facilities provided by the existing golf course that serve the wider population in addition to golf club members.

 

4.  National Highways are requested to amend designs in order to avoid foreseeable congestion on the northbound A284 and to include measures that avoid southbound delays at the proposed Causeway/A27 junction. It is also requested that plans for compulsory purchase of land to facilitate the new design, but expected to adversely affect local business interests, be reviewed;

 

 

 

 

5.  For the avoidance of doubt the Council supports the offline solution to bridging the proposed road at Yapton Lane;

 

6.  The Council’s support for the grey route calls for is conditional on the inclusion of a junction with Ford Road and the new A27. That we draw the attention of National Highways to the potential to reduce rat running by taking forward the Ford Road A27 junction as previously proposed.

 

          Councillor Gunner seconded these amendments.

 

          The Chair then invited debate on these amendments to the substantive recommendations as amended.  Those speaking against confirmed that they could not agree to the removal of the word conditional. 

 

Before moving further forward with the meeting, the Chair, in line with the Constitution at Part 5 (Rules of Procedure (Meetings), Section 1 – Council Procedure Rule 11.1, confirmed that the Committee would need to adjourn at 9.00 pm unless a vote was undertaken to extend the length of the meeting by a further 30 minutes. The Chair then proposed to extend the meeting by this time to 9.30 pm, if needed, to ensure that all business on the agenda would be concluded.  This was seconded by Councillor Cooper and on being put to the vote this was unanimously agreed.  

 

          Continuing with the debate, concerns were again raised that this opportunity for the bypass could be jeopardised by leaving demands and words such as conditional within the recommendations.  Members were advised to leave such detail to the independent inspector who would look at the development proposals. What was needed now was a clear indication from the Council that it wished to move forward with the scheme. 

 

          On putting the amendments to Recommendations (1) and (6) to the vote, these were declared as CARRIED.  

 

          The Chair then returned to the substantive recommendations as amended. 

 

          Councillor Walsh proposed a Motion without Notice which was “That the question be now put”.  This was not seconded but agreed by Councillors present.

 

          The voting on the substantive recommendations was then undertaken.

 

          The Council

 

                     RESOLVED

 

The following responses to the supplementary consultation and matters of clarification:

 

1.   The Council supports the grey route but calls forsatisfactory mitigation to reduce rat running. The Council does not have confidence that the rat-running issue has been satisfactorily resolved. The Council asks National Highways to review the veracity of existing traffic models in light of traffic survey data commissioned by Walberton Parish Council and National Highways’ own data that highlight the disparities between models and real-time data.  Solutions that avoid adverse traffic impacts for the entirety of Walberton and adjacent villages including currently un-modelled link roads around Fontwell, Barnham and Eastergate should be presented;  

 

2.  The Council supports the provision of a bat bridge design which is supported by scientific evidence and Natural England Green Bridge Guidance and is likely to achieve positive conservation outcomes for those species known to be present.  National Highways are requested to provide design updates that conform to these criteriaat Tye Lane;

 

3.  The Council views the exercise value of a round of golf as an important part of its health and wellbeing package for the district and would like to see golf (option 1 or option 2) retained at this location (not par 3 pitch and putt which had minimal exercise value) along with the important community facilities provided by the existing golf course that serve the wider population in addition to golf club members;

 

 

4.  National Highways are requested to amend designs in order to avoid foreseeable congestion on the northbound A284 and to include measures that avoid southbound delays at the proposed Causeway/A27 junction. It is also requested that plans for compulsory purchase of land to facilitate the new design, but expected to adversely affect local business interests, be reviewed;

 

5.  For the avoidance of doubt the Council supports the offline solution to bridging the proposed road at Yapton Lane;

 

 

6.  The Council calls for the inclusion of a junction with Ford Road and the new A27. That we draw the attention of National Highways to the potential to reduce rat running by taking forward the Ford Road A27 junction as previously proposed.

 

(A request was made by Councillor Jones that his vote against the substantive recommendations be recorded within these minutes).

 

(During the course of the debate on this item, Councillor Elkins declared a Personal Interest as a Member of West Sussex County Council).