Agenda item

Call -in Emergency Active Travel Fund Cycle Lane Scheme A270 Upper Shoreham Road (HI11 20/21)

The Director of Law and Assurance has agreed to call-in the proposed decision by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure concerning the Emergency Active Travel Fund

Cycle Lanes HI11 (20/21) – specifically, as it pertains to the A270 Upper Shoreham Road scheme, published on the Executive Decision Database on 3 November 2020 and in the Member’s Bulletin on 4 November 2020.

 

The decision report asks the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure to approve the removal of the Emergency Active Travel Cycle Scheme installed in Shoreham, and four others. The decision report by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure is attached as Annex 1 to the cover report.

 

The call-in was initiated by Councillor Kevin Boram, supported by Councillors Debbie Kennard, Ann Bridges, and George Barton. The decision has not previously been previewed by the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee. Mr Boram has been invited to outline the reasons for the call-in request to the Committee.

 

Mr Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, has been invited to address the Committee and answer questions.

 

Minutes:

29.1   The Chairman decided that both call-ins should be heard together as the issues are similar for both schemes and that a separate vote on each scheme would take place at the end of the debate.

 

29.2   Cllr O’Kelly introduced the request to call-in the decision by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure concerning the Emergency Active Travel Fund Cycle Lane Scheme in Chichester HI10 (20/21) (call in request appended to the signed minutes) and highlighted the following points:

 

29.3   The funding was awarded to provide an opportunity to improve mental and physical health and air quality but also to meet national climate change objectives by providing real alternatives to car driving.

 

29.4   That with the country now in a second lockdown this is not the time to be taking the scheme out and stated that the option of improving the scheme was not considered. Some sections of the scheme work really well and there is no commitment to keeping those but just the complete removal. The main issue with this scheme is around the lack of consultation rather than the scheme itself.

 

29.5   Cllr Boram introduced the request to call-in the decision by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure concerning the Emergency Active Travel Fund Cycle Lane Scheme A270 Upper Shoreham Road HI11(20/21) (call in request appended to the signed minutes) and highlighted the following points:

 

29.6   This route had already been identified by Adur District Council in its Active Travel Plan as it provides a link the to the Downs Link, Shoreham Airport and Ricardo’s. The route also features in the Government’s promotional video.

 

29.7   The route has proved to be very well used particularly by children attending the local schools and many of the schools are supportive of the retention of the scheme as it provides a safe cycling route not previously available.

 

29.8   Cllr Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure addressed the Committee, highlighting the following points:

 

29.9   The purpose of the schemes was to offer an alternative to public transport use particularly buses at a time when the Government were asking people to reduce public transport use. This is no longer the case. Traffic demands have changed and the reductions in car use are no longer being shown.

 

29.10The schemes were designed to be temporary and were without engagement with stakeholders due to the tight timescales.

 

29.11The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

 

·   Questioned why it was felt that these successful schemes needed to be removed. In particular, the Shoreham scheme which has exceeded expectations.

 

·   Agreed that it was justified to remove the less successful schemes.

 

·   Was disappointed that some data was not available due to the vehicle loop detectors not working in Chichester and that most of the survey responses were from motorists rather than from cyclists who used the scheme.

 

·   Asked how long the Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTRO) would be in place as the public assume that temporary means for the duration of the public health emergency and why it would not be possible to extend them.

 

·       Asked whether the temporary schemes could be retained while a permanent scheme is prepared.

 

29.12The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure summed up by highlighting the difference in the schemes and the issues regarding extending the TTRO’s.

 

29.13Cllr O’Kelly summed up stating that the Cabinet Member and officers have not really evidenced how “Gear Change” is being processed and that removal at this time would cause a loss of confidence in the whole process.

 

29.14Cllr Boram summed up and agreed that six weeks is not long enough to judge a schemes success and traffic levels are now almost back to pre Covid levels. The County Council needs to be encouraging people out of their cars and onto sustainable transport. Maintenance costs are small compared to the safety of children.

 

29.15A vote was held on retaining the Chichester scheme and the proposal was lost.

 

Resolved - That the Committee:-

 

Rejects the call-in of the Emergency Active Travel Fund Cycle Scheme in Chichester but requested that the Cabinet Member considers the closeness of the vote before confirming his decision.

 

29.16A vote was held on retaining the Shoreham scheme and the proposal was carried.

 

Resolved - That the Committee:-

 

Supports the call-in of the Emergency Active Travel Fund Cycle Scheme A270 Upper Shoreham Road and asks the Cabinet Member to reconsider his decision.

 

Supporting documents: