Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/011

Contact: Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager – West & Cherwell Tel: (01865) 815673

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Strategy & infrastructure Planning) (CMDE4).

The need for a new, strategic link road to the south of Bicester (the ‘South East Perimeter Road’) has been identified to support the significant employment and housing growth in Bicester, as proposed in the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-31.  The report sets out the recommendation for a preferred route for a new South East Perimeter Road in Bicester, to be safeguarded through Cherwell Local Plan Part 2. Selection of the preferred route has been informed by a public consultation and associated studies. The report includes a summary of findings from the consultation.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       note the responses received as part of the consultation;

(b)         safeguard Route Option 2 (Southern alignment) through agreement with Cherwell District Council as part of Cherwell Local Plan Part 2 (CLP Part 2). 

Approved

Approved

The need for a new strategic link road to the south of Bicester (the ‘South east Perimeter Road’) having been identified to support the significant employment and housing growth in Bicester as proposed in the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-31 the Cabinet Member for Environment considered the case for safeguarding a preferred route in the light of a public consultation and associated studies.

Julian Cordy considered the choice of Route 2 flawed the route having been chosen in a totally inappropriate way. Its impact on Wendlebury which already suffered considerably from noise intrusion, residential flooding and rat running would be significant.  The consultation process had been poor, had not followed correct guidelines with the views of the village largely ignored and clarity was needed on a number of issues including mitigation of air and noise pollution and finance as route 2 was the most expensive. It seemed to Wendlebury residents that this recommendation had been reached as a result of lobbying groups and asked that a decision be deferred.

Councillor Mrs Fulljames thanked the Cabinet Member for Environment, the Leader of the Council and officers for visiting the site. She represented local villages affected by these roads and endorsed everything that Mr Cordy had said. There was a lot of uncertainty in this area emanating from issues such as provision of a new junction on the M40 south of the existing Junction 9. Looking at the bigger picture there was clearly a need for joined up thinking as suggested by Bicester Town Council. Not only was option 2 clearly the most expensive option which was hard to justify in times of austerity but the route was close to houses which would increase noise intrusion.  She appealed to the Cabinet Member to listen to local views, put people before wildlife and reconsider the recommendation before him.

Setting out the consultation process and responses to it officers advised that in 2013 only 1 route had been identified but, following calls to look at alternatives, that had been extended to include other routes and it was that which had formed the basis of consultation for the past three years.  The results of the consultation had indicated more support for route 2 albeit from a wider area but with support narrowing considerably from a more local perspective and therefore the conclusion had been drawn that Option 2 was the most favoured route.  Of the other routes Vendee Drive had shown severe archaeological constraints; Route 1a had important wetland constraints and 1b was undeliverable because of MoD constraints whereas route 2 was less severely constrained. Officers understood the concerns of Wendlebury but this process was at a very early stage with a great deal more assessment work to be carried out along with further work to assess a new motorway junction. This was not about delivering a scheme now but about safeguarding a route to cope with expansion of Bicester as instructed by the planning inspector and changes could be made if that proved necessary.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59