Issue - meetings

The City Council’s Planning Policy Manager gave the following update on the preparations for the new Local Plans for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire:

 

          i.            Both Councils had agreed to prepare new Local Plans that would guide development through until 2031. It was felt that conducting this work in parallel would ensure consistency.

        ii.            Both Councils are encouraging residents to be involved in the process and an ‘Issues and Options’ consultation would begin in June 2012.

      iii.            In terms of land at Northern Fringe East, the Secretary of State for Transport had recently confirmed her decision to take account of the development of Chesterton Station in the forthcoming train operating franchises.

      iv.            Further details would be brought back to future meetings of the North Area Committee.

 

The County Council’s Transport Strategy Manager gave the following update on proposals for the development of Chesterton Station:

 

        i.            A project team had now been set up to work on the development of the new station.

      ii.            The Thames Link train operating franchise was due for renewal in 2013, with the Greater Anglia franchise due in 2014. Whilst the early stages of any franchise renewal process were a good time to look at new infrastructure there would be competing demand for funding.

    iii.            Whilst the County Council had committed the initial funding to the new station, revenue would then be received from train operators using the station.

   iv.            It was envisaged that building would start on site in early 2014, with the station opening in 2015.

     v.            The station would be located to the south of Chesterton Sidings and have three platforms.

   vi.            It was proposed vehicular access to the station would be via Cowley Road.

 vii.            Pedestrian access to the station would be via Cowley Road, the Guided Bus network and the residential streets to the south of the site.

viii.            Public consultation would take place in 2012 with a full planning application likely in 2013.

   ix.            The timetable of the new station was likely to be:

-         Up to 5 trains stopping at the station per hour

-         1 additional train south to Kings Cross station

-         1 additional train south to Liverpool Street

-         Cambridge to Norwich train to stop in both directions

-         1 or more of the current Kings Cross trains going on to Ely and Kings Lynn

 

Members of the public and Councillors asked a number of questions, as set out below:

 

1) Resident: Questioned whether there would be any extension to Milton Road.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that the junction at Milton Road and Cowley Road had been designed to cope with the new station and any new developments in the northern fringe. However this would be revisited as part of a full transport assessment. It was also highlighted that the ‘peak hour’ for the station would be earlier than for the road network.

 

2) Resident: Questioned whether the new station would be primarily for long distance or local commuters.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that it was envisaged that 50% of the users would be existing rail customers who had previously used Cambridge or Waterbeach stations and 50% would be new customers.

 

3) Resident: Questioned who would actually own the station.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that the project would be delivered in partnership with Network Rail. The County Council would provide the road and any additional infrastructure, whilst Network Rail would provide the station building. The County Council would lease the land from Network Rail.

 

4) Resident: Highlighted the need for sufficient vehicle and cycle parking and asked how the Council had modelled the likely impact on residential streets in East Chesterton.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that a large car park would be located on the station site with up to 1000 cycle spaces. The Council were aware of the potential impact on surrounding residential streets and would consult fully with local residents as part of the planning application process.

 

5) Resident: Questioned whether parking controls such as yellow lines and residential permits would be introduced.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that there were many options to consider and this would be done in consultation with local residents.

 

6) Councillor McGovern: Highlighted the current traffic flow issues in Lovell Road and suggested that the new station may add to this. Questioned how much money had been allocated in the business plan to address road modelling issues and if the option of a relief road had been considered.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that this would need to be looked at as part of the transport assessment. Money would be allocated in the business plan for this work and detailed costings would not be discussed with the Department of Transport in the autumn.

 

7) Resident: Asked what plans were in place for the Guided Bus line.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that there were many options regarding the Guided Bus and these would form part of the ongoing discussions with the public and local residents.

 

8) Resident: Questioned whether there would be platforms on both sides of the tracks at the new station.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that there would be platforms on both sides but that issues such as light pollution; additional noise and tanoy volume would be discussed with local residents.

 

9) Resident: Questioned what construction methods would be used to reduce the amount of dust produced.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that this would be fully covered in a dedicated construction plan.

 

10) Resident: Questioned whether the closure of Fen Road would be an option.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that the County Council did not currently have funding or plans for an alternative option if Fen Road was closed.

 

11) Resident: Highlighted that local businesses and families would be affected if Fen Road was closed.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager noted this comment and confirmed that there were currently no plans to close Fen Road.

 

12) Resident: Asked for more detail on the size of the new station.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that after Cambridge, Huntingdon, St Neots and Ely; the new station would be the 5^th busiest in the County. Within three years it was envisaged that 750,000 – 800,000 commuters would be using the station ever year.

 

13) Resident: Asked for clarity on the name of the new station.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that the County Councils preference would be the ‘Cambridge Science Park Station’. Discussions were however ongoing.

 

14) Resident: Questioned whether there would be a cycle bridge over the bridge near Ditton Fields.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that, whilst this could not be funded through the station project, the County Council would like to look at ways of providing a cycle bridge in this location.

 

15) Councillor Price: Asked the start and finish times of the train services.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that the timetabling would be similar to the current network with services starting around 5am and finishing up to 1am.

 

16) Councillor Price: Highlighted the potential for additional parking problems in Kings Hedges and Milton.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager noted this comment and confirmed that this would form part of the transport assessment.

 

17) Resident: Asked how cyclists and pedestrians would cross the busy Milton Road in order to access the station.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager emphasised the need for safe and appropriate crossings and confirmed that this would be looked at as part of the ongoing discussions

 

18) Councillor Bird: Questioned whether the old Cowley Road Park and Ride site could be used to ease any parking problems.

 

The Planning Policy Manager confirmed that this site would be under review as part of the Local Plan consultation.

 

19) Councillor Bird: Asked if Fen Road would be closed if the County Council found the funding for an alternative option.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that the County Council were not currently considering the closure of Fen Road. If funding was identified discussions would obviously need to take place with local residents.

 

20) Resident: Highlighted safety issues around level crossings.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager acknowledged this point and confirmed that this would be looked at as part of the ongoing discussions.

 

21) Resident: Asked whether the new station would result in longer delays at the level crossings.

 

The Transport Strategy Manager confirmed that level crossing closure patterns would form part of the transport assessment.

 

Update on Fen Road Steering Group

 

The Chair confirmed that the first meeting of the Fen Road Steering Group had taken place on Tuesday 20 March 2012. The issue of level crossing and highway safety had featured heavily and this would continue to be a key strand of ongoing discussions.

 

It was confirmed that the issues raised at this meeting of the North Area Committee would feed in to the ongoing work of the Steering Group and regular updates on progress would be given at future meetings.

 

Councillor Todd-Jones suggested that an information bulletin, drawing together all of the current issues and ongoing discussions, could be produced and made available to the public. The Chair agreed to discuss this suggestion with Council officers.