Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/025

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE6).

On 12 April 2018 the Leader of the Council (who was substituting for the Cabinet Member for Environment at that meeting) deferred a decision on proposals to provide bus stops, including a bus stop clearway on the south side of the road within a layby, and a pedestrian refuge on the A420 at Buckland, approximately 150 metres north-east of the Buckland Service Station and put forward as part of a proposed development on the south side of the A420 at the Buckland Services site to allow further information to be obtained on the rationale behind the proposal in respect of encouraging customers and staff at the new development to change their travel patterns to the site taking account also of the planning consent issued by the Vale of the White Horse District Council. That information is set out in a revised report together with the original report to the April meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve  proposals to provide bus stops, including a bus stop clearway on the south side of the road within a layby, and a pedestrian refuge on the A420 at Buckland, approximately 150 metres north-east of the Buckland Service Station as advertised.

On 12 April 2018 the Leader of the Council (who had been substituting for the Cabinet Member for Environment at that meeting) deferred a decision on proposals to provide bus stops, including a bus stop clearway on the south side of the road within a layby, and a pedestrian refuge on the A420 at Buckland, approximately 150 metres north-east of the Buckland Service Station put forward as part of a proposed development on the south side of the A420 at the Buckland Services site. That deferral was to allow further information to be obtained on the rationale behind the proposal in respect of encouraging customers and staff at the new development to change their travel patterns to the site taking account also of the planning consent issued by the Vale of the White Horse District Council. The Cabinet Member for Environment now considered a report (CMDE6) setting out that information together with the original report deferred at the April meeting.

Councillor Heathcoat reiterated her concern regarding the interpretation given to the response by the police which she did not consider could be taken as not objecting.  There was a new potential conflict point at the 2 stops in Pusey Wood which were not lit.  She reiterated Buckland Parish Council’s support for provision of a footpath rather than 2 new bus stops.  There was currently limited bus use which could be supported by existing stops of which there were 4 and provision of pedestrian facilities made far more sense and be of greater value to and safer for residents.

Mr Kirkwood explained the background to the comments submitted by Thames Valley Police and agreed that provision of a footpath would be excellent but unfiortunately that had not formed part of the planning process for the development and there was no funding available for its provision.  The only element that the county council was legally required to consult on was the waiting restriction in the layby.  Provision of a footpath would be a massive variation on the existing permission which would need to go back to planning.

The Cabinet Member could see the reasons behind calls for a more suitable scheme and, noting a local preference as stated by the parish council and local member for a footpath on the south side of the A420, recognised the aspirational merits for provision of such a path between the development and Buckland village if funding could be found. Unfortunately, that could not be done as part of this S106 agreement and despite a full and wide discussion which had taken place regrettably she felt she could do nothing other than agree the proposal which had been drawn up in accordance with the District Council’s planning decision but with an alteration to the timing of the clearway restriction to 24 hour. 

Therefore, having regard to the information set out in the report before her and the representations made to her at the meeting she confirmed her decision as follows:

to approve proposals to provide bus stops, including a 24 hour bus stop clearway on the south side of the road within a layby, and a pedestrian refuge on the A420 at Buckland, approximately 150 metres north-east of the Buckland Service Station as advertised.

Signed……………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………