Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the route choices for the Crewe Southern Link Road Bridge, the outcomes of recent public consultation and the adoption of a preferred route for incorporation in the final draft of the Crewe Area Action Plan.

Cabinet considered a report on the route choices for the Crewe Southern Link Road Bridge, the outcomes of recent public consultation and the adoption of a preferred route for incorporation in the final draft of the Crewe Area Action Plan.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the findings of the Public Consultation Report;

2.    notes the findings of the Preferred Route Assessment Report;

3.    notes the legal implications of approving and announcing the preferred route in relation to triggering statutory blight and approves that any statutory blight notices be processed and considered accordingly by the Council, noting that this is limited to statutory blight only and not discretionary purchase/generalised blight/Part 1 claims;

4.    approves the route shown at Appendix A to the report as the preferred route for the Southern Link Road Bridge;

5.    approves that the necessary steps are taken to protect the preferred route shown in Appendix A from future development, including introducing the route into the submission version of the Area Action Plan;

6.    approves the development of the supporting package of local highway junction improvements, as set out in the Preferred Route Report (Appendix C) to complement the provision of the Bridge;

7.    approves the proposed cross section of the new highway as a 13.3m wide corridor as detailed in Appendix B and the form of bridge construction as either a Ladder Bridge or Multi-Girder construction;

8.    approves that the alignment of the preferred route is further developed to enable the submission of a planning application alongside the package of local highway improvements, reflecting where possible feedback received through consultation; and

9.    authorises the Executive Director Place to:

(a)  work up and develop a Major Scheme Business Case for the Bridge and supporting measures in order to position the Scheme to compete for future Government funding opportunities;

(b)  commence detailed discussions with affected landowners, local residents, businesses and recognised community groups to refine the design details (including access arrangements and traffic management measures on local roads) and that supplementary formal consultation be undertaken to inform planning submission material;

(c)  in consultation with the Director of Governance and Compliance, enter into the required legal agreements with Network Rail to contribute to the design and development of the Scheme; and

(d)  enter into discussions with land owners about acquiring the necessary land and rights to deliver the scheme, including the advance relocation of affected businesses and to delegate the entering into any necessary supporting legal agreements to the Head of Estates.