Decision: It was resolved:
i) To reaffirm overall support for the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme and seek its early implementation,
ii) Confirm the scope of the objections listed in Appendix 1 to this report,
iii) Support the provision of a half junction (west facing slip roads) on the A1198 at the future A14 crossing,
iv) Authorise the advertisement in early 2010 of appropriate traffic regulation orders (TROs) on County roads along the
route of the scheme and in the Huntingdon area, for the Cabinet’s own final determination,
v) Delegate to the Lead Member for Highways and Access in consultation with the Executive Director: for Environment
Services, authority for approving the scope of the TROs,
vi) Authorise officer attendance at the prospective Public Inquiries to present the County Council’s case,
vii) Delegate to the three Lead Members (for Growth, Infrastructure and Strategic Planning; Highways and Access;
Economy and Environment) in consultation with the Executive Director Environment Services authority to make any
detailed changes to the objections and negotiate any withdrawal of objections. |
Reason/ Options Considered: The current proposals for the improvement of the A14, by the Highways Agency form a key recommendation of the Government’s A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study (CHUMMS), which was published in August 2001. That Study which was supported by widespread consultation, advocated a multi-modal range of transport solutions (its Preferred Plan) to the traffic problems of the A14 corridor.
For the improvement of the A14 itself, the main scheme was identified as needing to provide for a new free flow route between Ellington and Fen Ditton, built to a three lane dual carriageway standard.
Since 2002, the Highways Agency has been in consultation with the Local Authorities developing its proposals for the improvement of the A14 between Ellington and Fen Ditton.
The A14 scheme as proposed is the largest single scheme in the Highway Agency’s programme and its various elements, which follow the CHUMMS strategy, consist of:
· A new two lane dual carriageway between Ellington and Brampton (A1), with localised widening of the A1 to a three lane
dual carriageway past Brampton,
· A new off- line three lane dual carriageway between Brampton and Fen Drayton,
· Widening of the existing A14 to three lanes in each direction between Fen Drayton and Fen Ditton,
· Local access roads between Fen Drayton and Girton to separate local from strategic traffic,
· Major free flow interchanges with the A1 at Brampton, with the existing A14 at Fen Drayton and with the M11/ A428 at
Girton.
· The down grading of the A14 between Brampton Hut /Alconbury to Huntingdon and Huntingdon and Fen Drayton, with
the removal of the Huntingdon Viaduct and provision of local town centre links.
Councillors Downes and Bates spoke on aspects of the report a summary of which will be included in the minutes.
Cllr Smith provided written comments the detail of which would be clarified outside of the meeting.
The draft Orders for the scheme were published by the Highways Agency on the 30th September 2009 and the period for objections extends until the 6th January 2010.
In the short term, Cabinet had to critically comment via a series of objections on the proposed scheme now that scheme’s draft orders have been published. The recommendations agreed will form the basis of the Council’s position at the Public Inquiry next summer. Representation at the Inquiry is required because the Secretary of State will be promoting concurrent orders for the new trunk road works and the de-trunking, as well as the new local access roads and new roads in Huntingdon. |