Agenda item

The report seeks authorisation to make, publish and subsequently secure the side road order and traffic regulation orders which are required to deliver the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone scheme.

Cllr Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, introduced the report, moved the officer recommendation and made the following points:

·  The development is about creating in the region of 1,300 local jobs for the communities of Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Paulton.  These are communities that have been deprived of meaningful local employment in the four decades since the demise of the major employers in the area.

·  There is a strong commitment to our market towns and villages as evidenced by initiatives such as the Radstock Town Centre action plan that has enabled funding to be secured for multiple projects with the prospects of more to come. Over £3.7M is also being invested in Midsomer Norton with the redevelopment of the Town Hall and creation of a new Market Square space outside. In addition, a Midsomer Norton Town Centre Action Plan is under development, and this should enable the Council to gain access to grant funding should it become available. It is important to invest in and improve our market towns for the benefit of residents.

·  The initiative to develop this site has been taken and tens of millions of pounds of funding has been secured.

·  One of the commitments made to help ensure success was to improve the road running from Farrington Gurney to the Thickett Mead Roundabout. The road is to be upgraded, to remove pinch points, add a segregated cycle lane, bus stops, walkways and widen carriageways to deliver safe secure travel in all modes to and from the SVEZ.

·  This decision is a necessary precursor to enact the carriageway works and to enable us to make the necessary changes to the transport infrastructure.

Cllr Paul May seconded the motion and made the following points:

·  The wider Paulton, Midsomer Norton and Radstock areas have seen an enormous loss of jobs for the local workforce even dating back to the closure of the mines in the area. In addition, there has been considerable new housing, so the result has been that many people have to travel long distances for employment.

·  The concept of re-creating significant employment opportunities locally has been a long-term need for many years and the Old Mills / Great Mills area is the best location for this. The scheme has been a proposal since 2016, and we do need to make progress.

·  This proposal represents the sensible next steps in delivering the scheme and is an open, public, and legally accountable mechanism.

Cllr Sarah Warren welcomed the proposal and explained that this is one half of the route from Midsomer Norton to Farringdon Gurney, and the other half will be progressed in the coming years through a separate fund, the City Region Sustainable Transport Fund, and to a different timeline.  Together these two interventions will ensure there is a safe, LTN1/20 compliant link for those who want to walk, wheel or cycle between these two conurbations. The plans set out in the report are indicative at this stage, and there will be further work involving the internal council Active Travel Team, and Active Travel England, to ensure the new route provides for the highest standards of safety possible within any physical constraints.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

(1)  To authorise the making of a Side Roads Order (SRO) pursuant to sections 14 and 125 of the Highways Act 1980 to secure authority for the SRO Works (as defined at para 5.8 of the report) which are required to enable implementation of the Highway Works (as defined at para 5.5 of the report).

(2)  To authorise the making of a Traffic Regulation Order(s) (TRO) pursuant to the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 to enable the TRO Measures which are required to govern the use of the highways network required to accommodate the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ).

(3)  To authorise all necessary steps to be taken to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the SRO and any TROs including the publication and service of all notices, requisitions for information, statement of reasons and the preparation and presentation of the Council’s case at any public inquiry required to secure confirmation of the SRO by the Secretary of State for Transport.

(4)  To note and give due regard in determining whether or not to authorise the promotion of the SRO and any TROs, the public sector equality duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (“PSED”) and the requirements of the Human Rights Act 1998, as detailed further in section 11 of the report.

(5)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Sustainable Communities to (i) approve any changes to the SRO Works and (ii) make any necessary amendments to the SRO which may be required to enable the delivery of the Highway Works, including as detailed design of the SVEZ progresses.

(6)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Sustainable Communities to authorise the final requirements of the TRO(s) which are required to facilitate the delivery of the SVEZ.

(7)  To authorise the instruction of the SVEZ Project Team and its legal advisers, Burges Salmon LLP, to prepare and serve such documentation as may be required for the SRO and any TRO(s).

(8)  To note the ongoing progress which has been made towards the acquisition of land required to develop the SVEZ Scheme and the previous decisions outlined in the report.

Note:  Cllr Dave Wood declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this item relating to his employment as Chief Executive of Avon Needs Trees.  Cllr Wood was not present when this item was discussed and took no part in the decision.