Agenda item

 

This report to Council follows on from the 8 October meeting of Cabinet. It seeks Council approval for funding for highway mitigation schemes on the A444 in Nuneaton.

That Council:

 

1.       Approves the investment of £21,704,000 to deliver four highway mitigation schemes along the A444 Nuneaton Ring Road, as detailed in section 1.5, as part of the overall Transforming Nuneaton (Highway Improvements) Project.

 

2.       Approves the addition of the overall Transforming Nuneaton (Highway Improvements) scheme to the capital programme at a cost of £29.6M.

 

Councillor Jeff Clarke (Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning) moved the recommendations and was seconded by Councillor Clare Golby who reserved the right to speak. Councillor Clarke summarised key elements of the published report.

 

Councillor Keith Kondakor tabled an amendment that stated, 

That Council:

 

1. Approves the investment of £21,704,000 to deliver four highway mitigation schemes along £1,900,000 to deliver  A444 / Queens Road ( scheme B) and A444 / Wheat Street (scheme C) along the A444 Nuneaton ring road as detailed in section 1.57 as part of the overall Transforming Nuneaton (Highway Improvements) Project  to include appropriate enhanced bus and fully segregated cycle routes that may be required as part of future transport projects.    

 

2. In the development of detailed designs for scheme A (Corporation Street/ A444) seek solutions which would allow the dandelion fountain to be retained and allow for greater improvements to air quality, bus and cycling opportunities around Midland Road/Corporation Street /Abbey Street. 

     

3. In the development of detailed designs between Nuneaton railways stations and the town centre seek solutions which allow for improvements to the flow of pedestrians, buses, cyclists and other transport   

 

4. That a bid be made to the Place Shaping & Capital Feasibility Fund to Progress the design of a new Nuneaton Transport hub connected to Nuneaton Railway station and new Northern station access in coordination with plans to change the road system to the south of the station so that a combined highway and transport hub project can be submitted to cabinet and full council within the next 6 months. Such a design should look at minimising impact on currently viable businesses. 

 

5. Subject to the approval of recommendation 1 to 4 above, add the overall Transforming Nuneaton (Highway Improvements) scheme to the capital programme at a cost of £29.6M £23.13M as set out in Appendix 2.1 Capital Spending Profile, deferring £6M for Land Acquisition and £430K for temporary trees and temporary landscaping at site of possible transport hub.

 

(Struck through sections are deletions. Underlined sections are additions)

 

In support of the Green Group amendment Councillor Kondakor stated,

 

• Wheat Street is required as the venue of the proposed new library
• Corporation Street and the “dandelion fountain” roundabout require a review that will focus on cycling and walking.
• The Crown Pub should be bought and demolished to improve traffic flows by the railway station.
• It is important to identify the location of a new public transport hub before any other planning is undertaken.

 

Councillor Kondakor observed that the proposed project had scored 8.2 out of 10 for environmental considerations. This he suggested was unlikely to be achievable. Increasing traffic levels on the A444 will only increase air pollution. He closed by welcoming the funding but asked that the scheme be reviewed.

 

Councillor Jonathan Chilvers seconded the amendment. He confirmed that, in his view, the investment in Nuneaton was welcomed but did not feel that the current proposals were fit for the future.

 

Adjournment

 

To consider the Green Group amendment the meeting went into recess at 11.08 and resumed at 11.20.

 

Councillor Caroline Phillips welcomed the investment in Nuneaton but agreed with the Green Group amendment stating that more consideration is required before the scheme can go ahead. She asked that local members be given the opportunity to contribute to planning work on the scheme.

 

Councillor Jeff Morgan thanked Councillor Phillips for her comments regarding investment in Nuneaton and emphasised that the funding being discussed was part of a larger package worth almost £50m.

 

Councillor Dave Parsons (Deputy Leader of the Labour Group) agreed that members should have an opportunity to contribute to discussions on the scheme. Any planning should integrate consideration of car usage, public transport, cycling and walking. He concluded that investment is required but so too is local consultation.

 

Councillor Andy Sargeant called for segregated cycle routes to be considered where possible.

 

Councillor Izzi Seccombe reminded Council that there already exists a member group looking at the various schemes in Nuneaton. She agreed that engagement with partners is important but stressed that if investment is not made now it will be difficult to secure further investment in the future,

 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse recognised that the report and recommendations before Council were focusing on the principles. He stated, it is important to ensure that those principles are correct before progressing further.

 

Councillor Peter Butlin stated that he served on the Transforming Nuneaton Board and Town Deal Board. The Transforming Nuneaton Board was a cross party body which had input into the scheme already. He stressed that for Nuneaton to grow it will be necessary for people to be able to access the town centre easily.

 

Councillor Clare Golby, the seconder of the original motion, emphasised the need to address traffic issues in the town centre. She noted that the transport hub had been referenced in the January 2019 prospectus. The proposal was to place it at the railway station.

 

Councillor Keith Kondakor questioned the proposal to plant trees where the transport hub may be placed. He added that a new entrance is required to the railway station from the Weddington side, that new cycle and bus routes are needed, that under the proposals the existing businesses would need to be relocated and that the dandelion fountain sculpture would be placed in storage. He concluded that the Queens Road, Wheat Street schemes should proceed but that more consultation was required with the local community.

 

Councillor Maggie O’Rourke did not consider that the Transforming Nuneaton Board is inclusive or representative. People should be able to get involved.

 

Councillor Jeff Clarke acknowledged that different people have different views on the proposals. He stressed that there will be an opportunity for people to express those views. The buying up of empty properties would not help the situation. Rather it would cost the Council money for little if any gain.

 

Vote

 

A recorded vote was requested for the Green Group amendment. The voting was as follows:

 

Votes for the amendment

 

Councillors Adkins, Boad, Chilvers, C.Davies, N.Davies, Falp, Fradgley, Gifford, Holland, Kondakor, O’Rourke, Parsons, Phillips, Rickhards, Rolfe, Roodhouse, Sargeant, Webb. (18)

 

Votes against the amendment

 

Councillors Barker, Bell, Singh Birdi, Brain, Butlin, Caborn, Cargill, Clarke, Cockburn, Cooke, Crump, Dahmash, Gilbert, Gissane, Golby, Gran, Hayfield, Horner, Jenns, Kaur, Morgan, Pandher, Parry, Redford, Roberts, Seccombe, Simpson-Vince, Skinner, Timms, Warwick, P Williams, Wright (32)

 

There were no abstentions. The amendment was lost.

 

A recorded vote was requested for the substantive motion. The voting was as follows:

 

Votes for the substantive motion

 

Councillors Adkins, Barker, Bell, Singh Birdi, Brain, Butlin, Caborn, Cargill, Clarke, Cockburn, Cooke, Crump, Dahmash, C.Davies, Gilbert, Gissane, Golby, Gran, Hayfield, Holland, Horner, Jenns, Kaur, Morgan, O’Rourke, Pandher, Parry, Parsons, Phillips, Redford, Roberts, Sargeant, Seccombe, Simpson-Vince, Timms, Warwick, Webb, C.Williams, P.Williams Wright (40)

 

Votes against the substantive motion

 

Councillors Boad, Chilvers, Gifford, Kondakor, Roodhouse (5)

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillors N.Davies, Falp, Fradgley, Rickhards, Rolfe, Skinner (6)

 

Resolved:

 

That Council:

 

1.       Approves the investment of £21,704,000 to deliver four highway mitigation schemes along the A444 Nuneaton Ring Road, as detailed in section 1.5, as part of the overall Transforming Nuneaton (Highway Improvements) Project.

 

2.       Approves the addition of the overall Transforming Nuneaton (Highway Improvements) scheme to the capital programme at a cost of £29.6M.