Agenda item

1.            That the PEIR consultation response be agreed in general (attached as appendix D to this report) and the approach to seek positive environmental benefits from the scheme having regard to the Climate Emergency declaration adopted 5 June 2019 be endorsed, with any final amendments to the response being delegated to the Corporate Head of Regulatory, in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Built Environment and Wellbeing.

2.            That the Strategic Director: Services be authorised to negotiate and enter into a planning performance agreement with Highways England to enable the City Council to fully participate in the DCO process.

3.            That delegation to officers be agreed, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing the role of responding to the planning inspectorate with regard to the Council’s responsibilities as the host authority for the M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

4.            That a draft Local Impact Report be prepared and brought back to Cabinet that sets out the basis for an initial formal response to the Scheme to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as part of the DCO application process.

Councillor Porter introduced the report which set out the Council’s response to the preliminary consultation regarding M3 Junction 9. It was noted that the consultation response was due to be submitted by 30 August 2019 and this enabled Cabinet to give consideration to the report, with the opportunity for members of the public to address the meeting on this matter.

Councillor Porter emphasised that the Council’s response to the consultation supported both the aims of the Winchester Movement Strategy and those of the Council regarding climate change. The Council was one of the host authorities, alongside the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) and Hampshire County Council (HCC) that were taking part in discussions with Highways England on this matter and this response was in respect of the preliminary report.

Councillor Porter set out the next steps which included defining a local impact report, continued dialogue with Highways England and infrastructure projects to develop a planning performance report. As a follow up, the aim would be to develop a Project Working Group/Board to seek funding through the process, in order to achieve a planning agreement which robustly tested the plan. Meetings with SDNPA and HCC would take place to explore these options.

Chris Gillham, Malcolm Wallace, Steve Hallett, David Ball spoke during public participation and Councillor Frank Pearson addressed Cabinet at the invitation of the Leader, as summarised below:

Chris Gillham (Winchester Friends of the Earth)

·         Require Highways England to fill in the gaps of the appraisal and expressed some concern regarding Highways England and their previous response to dealing with proposals for traffic around Stonehenge;

·         Plans for Carbon Neutrality of the District are of upmost importance;

·         Alarmed that the project was proceeding at all and suggested two matters for consideration within the response:

- Respond removing reference presupposing that the project should proceed;

- The Council could respond to say they are opposed to the scheme as it conflicts with the Council’s Climate Emergency declaration.

Malcolm Wallace (The Green Party)

·         Road Traffic was a major source of pollutants – emissions cause significant damage to human health and the environment and would deepen the impact of the Climate Emergency in Winchester;

·         The proposals would increase traffic and noise pollution in Winchester and have a detrimental impact on air quality and increase greenhouse gas emissions – all to achieve a 90 second time saving;

·         Considered that now was the time to take a different approach and stop the scheme for the benefit of everyone.

Steve Hallett (Extinction Rebellion Winchester)

·         Proposals were incompatible with the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency;

·         Building roads creates problems as it increases demand on the road and in several years will result in a further increase in emissions;

·         Suggested that sustainable transport be invested in as this could transform travel in the District if diverted from the road scheme;

·         Highways England plans fail to address the urgency in the erosion of the SDNP and the Winnall Moors.

David Ball

·         Expressed concern regarding paragraph 5.10 contained in the letter but considered the Council’s draft response to be measured and supported the view that more works were required.

·         Stated that new emissions would arise as significant roads generate traffic;

·         The Highways England document made no reference to travel by rail or other nodes of public transport – suggested that a joined up holistic approach was required from the Government to consider a trade-off between investment in rail and Junction 9;

·         Noted the declaration of Climate Emergency in the draft response, although he stated that there was no reference to carbon neutrality in the broader context.

Councillor Pearson

·         Stated that he had looked at this matter in the national context and highlighted that Junction 9 was the key hub to the two ports;

·         Watched traffic growth as a result of the introduction of the Smart motorways by Highways England;

·         There was growing congestion with the current junction along the A34 to Junction 9 with most engines left running in the queuing traffic on a daily basis;

·         Considered that the Council’s response to Highways England covered all necessary points and supported the paper.

Following public participation, Councillor Porter thanked all those that spoke for their contributions and the relevant points they had raised and she encouraged members of the public to submit their comments directly to Highways England for inclusion going forward.

Councillor Porter emphasised the need to have a robust Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) in place with vigorous traffic measurement to establish how and if these improvements should be made and the need to increase opportunities for non-motorised uses was recognised.

Councillor Porter drew Members’ attention to two adjustments contained in the response letter following her discussion with officers. A revised version of the response letter was circulated at the meeting.

Councillor Porter also responded to Members’ questions in relation to the impact on the carbon footprint and air quality in Winchester and how reassurance was to be provided that Highways England submit an adequate response on these matters. Councillor Porter clarified that this would be addressed via the PPA and further engagement with Highways England following the meeting.

Cabinet was reminded that the Council was a consultee which remained in place through to the formal consultation process to the planning inspectorate. Prior to this stage, the Council’s response would come back to Cabinet for further consideration of the outcomes.

During debate, Cabinet Members supported the Council’s response in principle, but considered that it should be strengthened, particularly in respect of promoting cycling, walking and public transport proposals wherever possible and as a result suggested an addition to the recommendation to delegate any final amendments to the response to the Corporate Head of Regulatory, in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Built Environment and Wellbeing.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the Report.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the report be noted.

2.         That the PEIR consultation response be agreed in general (attached as appendix D to this report) and the approach to seek positive environmental benefits from the scheme having regard to the Climate Emergency declaration adopted 5 June 2019 be endorsed, with any final amendments to the response being delegated to the Corporate Head of Regulatory, in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Built Environment and Wellbeing.

3.       That the Strategic Director: Services be authorised to negotiate and enter into a planning performance agreement with   Highways England to enable the City Council to fully participate in the DCO process.

4.         That delegation to officers be agreed, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing the role of responding to the planning inspectorate with regard to the Council’s responsibilities as the host authority for the M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

            5.         That a draft Local Impact Report be prepared and brought back to Cabinet that sets out the basis for an initial formal response to the Scheme to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as part of the DCO application process.