Agenda item

Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey asked the Executive Member for Strategic Highways and Planning the following question:


Question:

If and when it is approved, how soon after would you be able to deliver the Winnersh Relief Rd part 2: since you own the land, have the money from the LEP, have the design because it hasn't materially changed, you have the contractor agreed for construction, it is less than 450 metres long and has no bridges, nor needs no network rail approval and most of the roundabout work can be done off road?

 

Minutes:

If and when it is approved, how soon after would you be able to deliver the Winnersh Relief Road part 2: since you own the land, have the money from the LEP, have the design because it hasn't materially changed, you have the contractor agreed for construction, it is less than 450 metres long and has no bridges, nor needs no network rail approval and most of the roundabout work can be done off road?

 

Answer

No road scheme is ever straightforward. This may be a short stretch of road but the standard processes and procedures remain the same irrespective of the length. You are correct in saying that it does not need Network Rail approval but due to the proximity of their assets the Council is obliged to have discussions with them. The same proximity of assets applies to Highways England who also have to be engaged in discussions. There are also issues over utilities routing and levels linking into Reading Road. Resolving these simply takes time.  As I go through the projected timetable, it is important to understand that the ability to meet these timings depends on not discovering unforeseen obstacles and of course the weather that can delay any project. 

 

In March 2018 application number 180760, I am sure that is in your memory, was received for the Winnersh Relief Road Phase 2.  This was a full planning application for the proposed development of a relief road connecting the B3030 King Street Lane and Winnersh Relief Road and Phase 1 to the A329 Reading Road.  This includes two new roundabout junctions on the A329 Reading Road, two new minor residential access roads and associated works including traffic signals, crossings, drainage, footways and cycleways.  This road forms Phase 2 of the Winnersh Relief Road and part of the western section of the Northern Distributor Road.  Public consultation commenced on 23rd March 2018 with 109 letters delivered to potentially impacted neighbours.  A total of 88 comments have been received to date.  Determination of the planning application is anticipated in the Summer, around about August.  On the assumption that the planning application is approved the period of August 2018 to May 2019 will be dedicated to creating the detailed plans to create the new road.  This will include the contractor organising what they need to complete the project including staff.  It also includes dealing with any planning conditions imposed, especially around such things as archaeology and ecology.

 

Please remember also that the programme needs to be managed around the nesting season to enable the clearance of the site, and not forgetting, as we saw earlier today, the unpredictable weather having an impact as well.  So putting all these points together brings the Council to a Spring construction, starting on site around April/May 2019, with a 10 months construction period, which brings the Council to a target opening date of around March 2020.  Finally, can I remind you that these milestone dates are target dates and will be influenced by many things so I cannot guarantee that they will be met. No one can.  Clearly the Council and its contractors will do everything in their power to make sure these milestones are met.  If and when any delays are looking likely I will endeavour to ensure that local Councillors will be kept fully informed.

 

Supplementary Question

Since the residents of both Wokingham and Winnersh are looking forward to this road as much as possible why were some of these consultations that you planned to do after the planning application was approved, not done already so that could be already finished so we could actually be started sooner?  The nesting season does not actually start during November, December and January. You can start building then.

 

Supplementary Answer

I do not recall mentioning any consultations after the planning approval so I am not quite sure where that is from.  I have given you a detailed timetable which is what you requested.