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Division(s): Witney West, Witney North

ITEM EX14

EXECUTIVE – 15 MARCH 2005

WEST END LINK ROAD - WITNEY

Report by Interim Head of Transport and Head of Property

Introduction

  1. This report seeks approval for a revised detailed project appraisal for the Witney: West End Link Road Stage 1 with a total cost of £1.610 million.

    2. Scheme Progress

  2. Since the project appraisal for the West End Link Road Stage 1 was presented to the Executive in November 2001, a detailed design has been carried out and tenders sought for carrying out the works. The original estimate of £875,000 (August 2001) was uplifted to £1,040,000 (August 2003) and approved by the Executive on 22 July 2003. Unfortunately the contract award could not proceed because it came to light that a small plot of land on the road line was in the ownership of the official receiver of the Early’s of Witney factory site. Protracted negotiations finally resulted in a dedication for highway purpose of this land on 27 January 2005.

  3. Detailed planning permission was granted on 28 April 2003. Conditions attached to this approval have been complied with in so far as is necessary to allow the start of development.

  4. An associated closure of Dark Lane and Moor Avenue, to remove ‘rat running’, was approved by the Transport Implementation Committee on 29 May 2003. The statutory deadline for making the order is 26 March 2005 (2 years after publication of the proposed order) so the proposed order has been republished and any objections will be considered by the Transport Implementation Committee at their meeting on 24 March 2005.

  5. Tenders for the construction of the link road were received on 24 February 2005 and these are being evaluated in accordance with Best Value criteria. Officers estimate that the total cost of the scheme (including fees) has now risen to £1,610,000. As this latest figure constitutes a change of more than 10% of the previous estimate a new approval is now required, see Annex 1 (download as .doc file) for detailed Project Appraisal H163/2.

  6. It is anticipated that work will commence on site in late June or early July 2005, subject to the necessary Section 106 and Section 278 agreement being signed by the three landowners to fully finance the scheme. The revised cost is entirely within the original outlined financial agreement with the three landowners. A construction contract will not be awarded until this agreement is completed by all parties.

    7. Environmental Implications

  7. Stage 1 of the link road will provide the opportunity to reduce traffic congestion in Witney High Street. It will also facilitate the redevelopment of brownfield land south of Mill Street.

  8. The scheme is to be built in a conservation area and the construction of the single carriageway road will be undertaken in a way which minimises environmental impact. The Environment Agency, together with the District Council, have been consulted during the design stage and their requirements complied with.

    9. Financial and Staff Implications

  9. Financial Implications are detailed in the Resource Appraisal at Annex 2 (download as .doc file). Most of the increased cost is because an allowance has now been made for potential Land Compensation Act Part 1 Claims. Inflation and a risk contingency for claims on the construction contract and public utility costs account for the remaining increase.

  10. Project management is being carried out by officers of Environment & Economy and can be encompassed within current staffing levels.

    11. RECOMMENDATIONS

  11. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to approve the Detailed Project Appraisal H163/2 as set out in Annexes 1 and 2.

RICHARD DIX
Interim Head of Transport

NEIL MONAGHAN
Head of Property

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer:
Colin Baird Environment & Economy Tel: Oxford 815536
Mark Tailby Corporate Property Group Tel: Oxford 816012

February 2005

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