Minutes:
Mr Tilbury introduced the report and gave the Forum
an overview of progress since the previous meeting. He reported
that a major focus had been on concluding the S106 agreement and
all signatures had now been obtained.
There was now a delay in issuing the planning consent and
completing the S106 because of a decision by the European Court of
Justice (ECJ) in April 2018 with regard to the way in which habitat
mitigation should assessed. The City
Council had complied with the process determined by the UK courts,
but this had now been ruled incorrect and further work was
therefore required before the decision notice could be released. It
was hoped that this would not cause any delay in the progress of
the development although this was still possible. Mr Tilbury then highlighted other key areas of
current activity such as highway infrastructure works and also the
continuing discussions regarding the doctors' surgery. Officers and
members of the consortium were making strenuous efforts to keep to
the timetable for delivery of the development - currently the
school opening remained on track for September 2020. Finally, Mr Tilbury advised the Forum that he
understood that the first reserved matters application was
currently being prepared.
Mr Christmas (WYG) then presented the Forum with an update
regarding each of the four main packages of Highways works through
the site to the northern access junction as well as the
Botley Road foot/cycle way to the
station. He advised that essentially the strategy as previously
agreed remained on track
Mr Stewart (Hampshire County Council Highways) referred to funding secured from Highway's England with regard to improvements at the Parkway South roundabout (R1) and also at M27 Junction 9. He also described the commencement of enabling works and the completed drainage and ground surveys etc.
The Chairman thanked the officers for their
presentation and invited questions from the Forum. The following questions were put and responses
obtained:
(i) Whether the
final design of the junction with Bluebell Way was to be a signal
crossing and was advised that it would.
(ii) Mr Christmas advised that he could not give a guarantee for completion by end of 2019 of the completion to infrastructure improvements and extension to Whiteley Way, but that it remained the intention. Mr Stewart also clarified that although it was not the intention for there to be a pedestrian bridge (instead of the existing zebra crossing near to Parkway South roundabout (R1)) the crossing will be improved and relocated further to the south.
(iii) Mr Stewart advised that he would refer a query with regard to possible plans for a pedestrian crossing at Botley station to his colleagues at the County Council working on the Botley bypass
(iv)
Mr Clifton (Hampshire County Council Highways) confirmed that the
Botley Road Foot/Cycle Way was to
extend all the way to the railway station and there would be
pedestrian crossings associated with the new Botley bypass roundabout. Therefore, the crossings would be now be located
further south from the station.
(v) Councillor
Bundell raised a number of points
regarding the lighting proposal along the B3051 cycleway,
specifically the 5-metre lighting posts which Curdridge Parish Council had objected
to. He understood that Botley Parish Council had also supported low level
bollard lighting as an appropriate alternative. He believed that
the 5-metre posts were not a statutory requirement and so believed
that their use could be amended. He
requested that the Forum request that the County Council re visit
this policy specifically with regards to this proposal. Mr Clifton
advised that he would take back the comments from the Councillor
but reminded members that the County Council’s position was
that bollard lighting was not appropriate as part of these
proposals and that the design as presented was policy
compliant.
(vi) With
regard to the existing Whiteley
Doctor’s Surgery and its capacity as the new development
progressed, Mr Tilbury advised that provision had been made within
the S106 agreement and that the NHS had agreed to the proposals to
utilise space within the existing facility and to increase car park
size. This would require planning
consent from Fareham Borough Council.
(vii) Points were
raised regarding the footpath/cycleway to Botley Station, specifically whether the
carriageway would be also be lit, whether the existing roadway
would become narrowed as a result of the footpath/cycleway and
whether there is an option for a mixture of
lighting.
The Chairman thanked those attending this meeting of the Forum.
The meeting commenced at 6.30pm and concluded at 7.20pm.
Chairman
Supporting documents: