Decision details

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to submit a Local Impact Report and Statement of Common Ground for the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon Improvement Scheme to the Planning Inspectorate.

The officers had prepared a Local Impact Report (LIR) and a Statement of Common Ground (SOCG), summaries of which were included at Appendix A of the report and contained in full at Appendix B.

Commuted sums for initial maintenance costs, potential mitigation measures for unforeseen issues on the wider CEC network and for addressing wider environmental impacts on the A556 south of the M6 had been agreed in principle by the Highways Agency and negotiations on the exact values were continuing.

RESOLVED

That

1.    the Council in principle supports the Highways Agency’s proposals for the A556 Knutsford to Bowdon improvement scheme;

2.    the LIR and SOCG as presented be submitted to the planning inspectorate as an accurate representation of CEC’s position, including the principle of the revised junction designs at the following junctions, as listed in Appendix B:

a.    A50 / de-trunked A556 (Mere Crossroads)

b.    A5034 / de-trunked A556 (Bucklow Hill)

c.    A50 / new A556

3.    the acceptance of the road safety departures report as attached at Appendix C be approved;

4.    any variations to the LIR or SOCG required during or before the inspection process be delegated to the Head of Environmental Protection and Enhancement in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and local ward members;

5.    any minor amendments to the scheme details from those shown in the LIR/SOCG, such as junction designs, be delegated to Head of Environmental Protection and Enhancement, with local ward members and the Portfolio Holder being informed;

6.    if necessary, officers formally represent and evidence the views contained within both the report and the SOCG and LIR at the Examination in Public;

7.    in principle, the Cheshire East Council is content to take over the management of the de-trunked sections of the former A556 and be responsible for their maintenance as part of its highway network subject to the agreement of a commuted sum to cover additional costs;

8.    the agreement of the commuted sum from the Highways Agency for maintenance of the de-trunked A556 be delegated to the Head of Environmental Protection and Enhancement in consultation with the Portfolio Holder;

9.    the agreement of the commuted sum from the Highways Agency for off-site mitigation work for “unforeseen” issues be delegated to the Head of Environmental Protection and Enhancement in consultation with the Portfolio Holder;

10.the agreement of the commuted sum from the Highways Agency for off-site mitigation work for wider environmental impacts be delegated to the Head of Environmental Protection and Enhancement in consultation with the Portfolio Holder;

11.the Corporate Manager for Resources be authorised to collect and administer the commuted sums as necessary; and

12.the Head of Environmental Protection and Enhancement in consultation with the Portfolio Holder be authorised to respond to queries and questions that may arise as part of the Examination process in relation to the LIR and SOCG.

Before closing the meeting, the Leader referred to the tragic death of an 11 year old boy from Sandbach following a traffic accident on the Alderley Edge Bypass on 16^th September. The boy’s brother and mother had both sustained injuries. The Leader asked that the Council’s condolences be conveyed to the family together with the wish that those injured made a speedy recovery.