Issue - meetings

To consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste on the proposed decision to approve the revised outline design scheme for the A274 Sutton Road at its junction with Willington Street

Russell Boorman (Major Capital Programme Manager) was in attendance for this item

(1)       Mr Boorman introduced the report which provided an update on the progress on the design work for the Willington Street Junction Improvement Scheme.  A preliminary scheme had been discussed by the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee at its meeting on 16 March 2017; however, since then additional work had shown that the preliminary scheme would not deliver the intended benefits and a re-design was required.  The Cabinet Committee was, therefore, now being asked to consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on his proposed decision to approve a revised outline design scheme for the A274 Sutton Road at its junction with Willington Street.

(2)       Mr Balfour (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) said that most of the funding for the project was coming from the Local Enterprise Partnership and that engagement on the revised scheme had been delayed because of the local and parliamentary elections.

(3)       Mr Cooke said that the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board had not responded favourably to the revised scheme and wanted the decision to be deferred to allow full engagement with residents.  Mr Cooke said the proposed expenditure would have little impact on relieving congestion and the removal of hedgerows and mature trees would increase noise and other pollution for residents of Sutton Road and Bell Meadow. 

(4)       Mr Cooke proposed and Mr Lewis seconded a proposal to defer consideration of this matter until the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee when the views of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board and the results of the public engagement would be available.

(5)       In response to comments, Mr Balfour asked the Cabinet Committee to consider the scheme being proposed as the basis for public engagement.  Officers provided additional information about planting schemes and other actions to mitigate the impact of noise and other issues. 

(6)       Resolved that:

(a)       The proposed outline design scheme for the A274 Sutton Road at its junction with Willington Street be noted;

(b)       Engagement with residents be undertaken; and

(c)       The proposal be re-considered at the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on 21 September 2017 when the results of the public engagement and the comments of the Joint Transportation Board would be available.