Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning (Place Making) introduced the report.    

The Specialist for Strategic Planning explained the progress made since her last report in July 2018.  She updated that a wider project working group had been set up in partnership with Somerset County Council to identify the areas that fall within the remit of the District Council and those that fall within the remit of Somerset County Council.  The Working Group would look at the key issues that need to be resolved and agree as much as possible prior to the Examination Stage in order to be clear on the conditions and mitigations sought by the District Council as part of the Scheme.  She explained that the need to delegate authority for the Council’s Relevant Representation was due to time pressures and that a letter was being sent to the Planning Inspectorate expressing concerns as there was potential for the Examination to move forward to the end of November.

The District Executive was addressed by representatives from Sparkford Parish Council, Queen Camel Parish Council and West Camel Parish Council who spoke in objection to Highway England’s design of the Hazelgrove road junction.  Points raised related to:

• Increase in traffic through Sparkford High Street
• No traffic calming measures being proposed
• Advantages of a parallel road
• Queried how the suggested diversionary routes would be policed

• Potential for traffic to back up and divert through West Camel

The Specialist for Strategic Planning confirmed that the design of the junctions was part of the Development Consent Order application that had been submitted by Highway England and it would be those junctions included that the Inspectorate would be considering, it was not the District Council’s intention to submit alternative junctions to the Examination.  She noted that the relevant Parish Councils had registered with the Planning Inspectorate to become an Interested Party to make their own representations.  She confirmed that she would provide support in terms of mitigation measures.  She advised that the impact of the Development Consent Order was being looked at including the impact of the diversionary route on local communities and businesses.

The Scrutiny Committee Chairman noted that they had expressed concern that the process should not be delayed and that officers were stretched and that it had been acknowledged that additional support was needed.

During discussion, members requested that the relevant Ward Members be kept informed on the Relevant Representations prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate.  Comment was also made on the existing flooding issues near to Podimore and that the proposed dualling should not exacerbate this.

At the conclusion of the debate, members were content to confirm that delegated authority for the Council’s Relevant Representations be given to the Lead Specialist, Strategic Planning with the relevant Portfolio Holders.