Agenda item - Response to Government Consultation on Major Road Network

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)           Note the officer response submitted to the Government’s Department for Transport on 12 March 2018 on behalf of the council in response to the consultation on its proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network in England and Wales, as attached in Appendix 2 of this report, including the particular requests for additions and deletions set out in paragraph 3.9 of this report;

2)           Note the officer response submitted to the Government’s Department for Transport on 7 February 2018 on behalf of the council in response to the consultation on the Highways England report entitled ‘Shaping the future of England's strategic roads’, as attached in Appendix 3 of this report; and

3)           Note and welcome the continued progress being made by the emerging Transport for the South East Sub-national Transport Body, as summarised in paragraphs 3.20 and 3.21 of this report.

67.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the officer response submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on the proposal for the creation of a Major Road Network in England and Wales and the officer response to the Highways England report ‘Shaping the future of England’s strategic roads’.

67.2      Councillor West stated that the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) had been deeply concerned about Highways England proposals to enhance the A27 as their research had indicated a decimation of the landscape and habitat that would be required to effect the widening of the junctions. Councillor West believed the SDNPA would be dismayed regarding the level of support provided in the council’s response to Highways England and the proposals were effectively a road building charter that did not fit with the council’s sustainable transport ambitions and priorities. Councillor West stated he strongly believed an urgency sub-committee should have been held to discuss the response ahead of the deadline and he could not support the recommendations of the report.

67.3      Councillor Nemeth requested clarification of the reasons for the deletion of the A270 Upper Lewes Road.

67.4      The Head of Transport Policy & Strategy explained that the A270 in the east and west of the city had been treated differently as in the east, the A270 was the only access to traffic to the city but in the west there were a number of different access routes.

67.5      Councillor Nemeth noted that Kingsway and Old Shoreham Road A270 appeared equally busy and asked for clarification on why the former had been included and the latter had not.

67.6      The Head of Transport Policy & Strategy that to include the A259, A270 and A27 would increase the mileage of the Major Road Network and central government were keen to ensure that the level of mileage in the Major Road Network was the same as the Strategic Road Network.

67.7      Councillor Littman stated that central governments approach to solving congestion and poor air quality was entirely outdated and the research methodology used was far from sophisticated. Councillor Littman stated that whilst the officer response was well considered, there was a number of points he could not support the expansion of A roads to expressways nor the inclusion of the A259.

67.8      On behalf of the Green Group, Councillor Littman moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.1 as shown with strikethrough below:

2.1         Note and endorse the officer response submitted to the Government’s Department for Transport on 12 March 2018 on behalf of the council in response to the consultation on its proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network in England and Wales, as attached in Appendix 2 of this report, including the particular requests for additions and deletions set out in paragraph 3.9 of this report;

67.9      Councillor West formally seconded the motion.

67.10   The Head of Transport Policy & Strategy explained that issues relating to the A259 and expansion of A roads to expressways were different and related to the Major Road Network and the Strategic Road Network respectively.  Recommendation 2.1 related to the Major Road Network and recommendation 2.2 related to the Strategic Road Network and recommendation 2.2 of the report only requested the committee to note the response.

67.11   The Chair put the motion to the vote which passed.

67.12   The Chair put the recommendations as amended to the vote which passed.

67.13   RESOLVED-

That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)           Note the officer response submitted to the Government’s Department for Transport on 12 March 2018 on behalf of the council in response to the consultation on its proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network in England and Wales, as attached in Appendix 2 of this report, including the particular requests for additions and deletions set out in paragraph 3.9 of this report;

2)           Note the officer response submitted to the Government’s Department for Transport on 7 February 2018 on behalf of the council in response to the consultation on the Highways England report entitled ‘Shaping the future of England's strategic roads’, as attached in Appendix 3 of this report; and

3)           Note and welcome the continued progress being made by the emerging Transport for the South East Sub-national Transport Body, as summarised in paragraphs 3.20 and 3.21 of this report.