Issue - meetings

South Cambridgeshire District Councillors could not vote on the following item so the Vice-Chair took the Chair.

The Committee received a reserved matters application pursuant to outline approval 07/0620/OUT for the construction of a new cycleway and footway on land adjacent to the Cambridge Guided Busway (CGB) route and Abode 1 residential development.

The Committee noted the amendment presented in the amendment sheet.

Steve Walters (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report.

     i.        Raised concern over a 90 degree bend in the path, this could be an issue for cyclists who were travelling at speed to slow down sufficiently. Asked whether anything was in place to warn cyclists to be prepared.

    ii.        Sought clarification regarding whether the route linked to Shelford Road.

   iii.        Over the last few years there had been instances where the Guided Buses had derailed on an area within the proposed route, asked whether a crash barrier should be installed to protect cyclists.

  iv.        Referred to lighting in section 2.4 on page 8 of the agenda. Stated that there had been issues in other areas where LED lighting had been installed on cycle routes but were not maintained so they were ineffective. Asked whether the City Council would take responsibility for the maintenance.

   v.        Asked whether there was any demand from the public to link the route up to Shelford Road and if so could it be incorporated into this proposal.

  vi.        Stated a preference of that putting the LED lights on the edges of the pathways, if they were put in the middle they could dazzle cyclists.

 vii.        Raised concern over the amount of trees being removed to build the route, asked whether these could be replaced in another location.

In response to Members’ questions the Trainee Planner said the following:

     i.        Confirmed that the Cycling and Walking officer had seen the plans for the angle of the path, she was content with the proposals and did not think any extra precautionary warning was necessary.

    ii.        Confirmed that the route had never linked to Shelford Road.

   iii.        Affirmed that no discussion about a crash barrier had been undertaken.

  iv.        Confirmed that the City Council would adopt and maintain the link and LED lighting.

   v.        Explained that the main purpose of this proposal was to serve the 301 residents within the Abode development. A cut through in a different area of the development already linked it to Shelford Road.

  vi.        Confirmed the planned location for the LED lights was on the edge of the pathways.

The New Neighbourhoods Development Manager highlighted that complaints from residents of Royal Way had been received because of the slow delivery of this route so there was demand to deliver. The New Neighbourhoods Development Manager also confirmed that she would refer the request to replace the removed trees elsewhere in the development.

The Committee:

Resolved unanimously to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the officers.