Agenda item

Katie Stewart (Director Environment, Planning and Enforcement) Joseph Ratcliffe (Transport Strategy Manager) and Katie Pettitt (Principal Transport Planner) were present for this item. 

1.  Mr Payne asked for clarification over whether the public opinion survey was sufficiently independent and significantly robust in its conclusions and whether yet another consultation had also been taking place in relation to planning aspects of this proposal. 

2.  Joe Ratcliffe confirmed that there had been a statutory planning consultation between 10 December and 20 January (although responses could be received up to the date of the Planning Committee) and in addition, a public opinion survey had taken place between 6 and 16 January.   The report was received late on 23 January and was published for Cabinet on 24 January.  There was a competitive tender to procure the survey and Lake Market Research were successful.  The survey was of the catchment area of the station, which included the fringes of the urban area of Thanet, the Thanet North Coast and North of Dover District including Sandwich.  The sample size was 379 people of which 110 were in the core catchment area of the village of Cliffsend, this was designed to be representative of the station catchment of 20,341 people.  Based on the sample size there was confidence that the results were accurate to within 5%.  This was absolutely independent and robust but there was always a margin of error, as there was with any survey such as an election exit poll. 

3.  Mr Payne explained that this was a place making opportunity.  The project dated back to 2010 and featured in Kent’s Local Transport Plan 4, adopted by County Council in 2017. The report from the latest survey gave no over-riding reason why the project should be cancelled at this stage.  Mr Payne considered that Thanet had been losing out with the port of Ramsgate being shut, Manston airport being shut and trains taking too long to get to London, but that things had been changing and high-speed services to East Kent led to more job opportunities and more investment in this region of Kent.  The concept of parkway stations had been shown to work elsewhere, and Thanet Parkway was an infrastructure first project. The station was planned for buses and pedestrians as much as for cars, and electric vehicle charging points had been built into the design from the outset.  Mr Payne supported continuing investment in the project to the maximum shown in the report.

4. Joe Ratcliffe stated that prior to the second statutory planning consultation in 2019/20 which followed one in 2018, there had been two public consultations (2015 – over 500 responses and 2017 – nearly 400 responses).  Opinions had been mixed, in 2015 68% of respondents had said they would feel at least one benefit of the station.  In 2017 34% said they would use the new station, 26% were unsure.  These were very mixed results.  Within the current survey, of 110 people in Cliffsend village surveyed, 45% of people said yes, that the station should be built, 38% said no. 12% were neither for nor against.  The strongest support was in the South of the catchment area where 57% were for the station and 18% against.  In the Northern part of the catchment area, 47% were against the station and 39% for.  The overall result, weighted in relation to population distribution across the catchment, was 45% in support of the station and 38% against.  Accounting for a 5% sampling error this was very close, opinion was split; however, it was slightly more for than against.

5.  Mr Whiting asked about the results of those residents who regularly use the train.  Joe Ratcliffe explained that of those people who use trains once a week 68% say yes, the station should be built.  This was a small sample size, however, and it was not possible to say that this was within the 5% sampling error. 

6.  Ben Watts asked for clarification on the figures within the report which stated that 67% of regular train users thought the station should be built, but this had been rounded to 68% in the Lake Market Research Report.

7.  The Leader explained that if the project did not progress it would be very likely that the LEP funding would be lost.  Joe Ratcliffe referred to paragraph 3.14 which set out the reasons for proceeding with the survey of public opinion for the scheme and why a full public consultation was not appropriate.

8.  Katie Stewart explained that this project dated back to 2009-10 and research into how to get the most out of the introduction of HS1 rail services for regeneration in East Kent.    The proposal for Thanet Parkway came out of an extensive options appraisal and was an option that was determined to be the best opportunity.  It was considered that this project would widen the job market for local people, and support growth in the current local plan. 

9.  Mrs Chandler referred to attracting inward investment into East Kent.  This was an opportunity for supporting business at Discovery Park, and the station would be a “game changer,” providing a significant opportunity which would not appear otherwise.  Opportunities to support the attraction of new jobs were vital in this part of Kent and good transport links were key to this. 

10.  Mr Oakford confirmed that he would be supporting this decision, as this was an infrastructure project which would help grow businesses in the area.  It had support from local businesses, was building infrastructure for the future and was an investment which KCC should support because it supported local businesses.

11.  Mr Whiting confirmed that he would also be supporting the decision. From an economic development perspective, it was vital that East Kent had access to other markets for jobs and for people to come and work in Thanet.  The High Speed rail link could help do that.  If the investment wasn’t made now, it would be unlikely that it would ever be made. 

12.  Mr Hotson explained that there was a consensus for this to go ahead, and that in his dialogue with district and borough councils across the county, there was an indication that one of the main problems they faced was a lack of infrastructure before there was growth.  Growth was planned for East Kent in terms of housing and business.  This was one of the first instances where there would be infrastructure in place before there was growth.  He commented that before the plan was finalised there should be a traffic plan as well.  Katie Stewart confirmed that her team would be working with the highways team, to maximise the opportunity for more sustainable connections in the future. 

14.  Mr Hill confirmed that he supported the project, given that one of the priorities of KCC was to regenerate Thanet and to address the deprivation in this part of the county.  A lot of investment had been put into Thanet and this was the time to reinforce the successes and produce even better results.

15.  The Leader explained that he and colleagues had come to the project with no preconceptions over it. The difficulties and concerns with the project had been recognised, and it was a significant financial contribution and commitment.  The project is about putting in infrastructure to provide support for Thanet’s economic development and north Dover’s economic development over many years, but that in some ways it’s now or never. There was very little likelihood that the SELEP funding (or its equivalent) would be available in five years’ time, for example. The wording in the decision was up to a total KCC contribution of £17.81m and there was work to be done on securing other sources of funding and working on the overall cost. There was a genuine mix of opinion from the community, but there was strong support from businesses and if KCC was to step away it might damage credibility with the LEP and the business community.  There was also a strong partnership on this project with local councils, including cross party support at Thanet District Council. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1) agree to progress and deliver the Thanet Parkway Railway Station project (up to a total KCC contribution of £17.81m, subject to necessary increases to the capital budget allocation in the 2020/21 County Council budget), which will include the following key activities;

a) undertaking detailed design; and subject to planning approval;

b) completing the acquisition of the land; and

c) entering into contracts as necessary for construction.

2) delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment & Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to take appropriate actions necessary to implement this decision, including but not limited to, deciding the preferred procurement route and entering into relevant contracts (of which KCC’s contribution is to the maximum value of £17.81m) or other legal agreements.

The Leader wished Katie Stewart well as this would be her last Cabinet meeting before leaving KCC for a senior role at Surrey County Council.  Members thanked her and wished her well in her future role.