Agenda item

Imogen Shepherd-DuBey asked the Executive Member for Environment and Leisure the following question:

 

Question:

While on the most part we all support Greenways, there is a lot of concern about the proposed Jubilee Avenue section in Emmbrook.  The concerns are about damage to the historic trees as well the undergrowth & local wildlife.  The off-road greenway being put in this location will be so short that it has very little to offer cyclists or pedestrians along this already quiet road. However, it just ends at a busy roundabout junction, with no obvious benefit.  I have yet to meet a resident who thinks this section along Jubilee Avenue, is a good idea and good value for money, but it feels like this is just being railroaded through.

 

We do not feel that the consultation for the Jubilee Avenue section has been done properly. Residents are confused about what is happening and are horrified by what it might mean.  The first that most knew about this was when they saw notices about a small section of bridleway, but there has been nothing that shows the full plans for this area. Residents want to ask questions. Please can we have a consultation that includes displays, full detailed designs and proper bi-directional communication.  If not, why not?

 

 

Minutes:

While on the most part we all support Greenways, there is a lot of concern about the proposed Jubilee Ave section in Emmbrook.  The concerns are about damage to the historic trees as well the undergrowth & local wildlife.  The off-road greenway being put in this location will be so short that it has very little to offer cyclists or pedestrians along this already quiet road. However, it just ends at a busy roundabout junction, with no obvious benefit.  I have yet to meet a resident who thinks this section along Jubilee Ave, is a good idea and good value for money, but it feels like this is just being railroaded through.

 

We do not feel that the consultation for the Jubilee Ave section has been done properly. Residents are confused about what is happening and are horrified by what it might mean.  The first that most knew about this was when they saw notices about a small section of bridleway, but there has been nothing that shows the full plans for this area. Residents want to ask questions. Please can we have a consultation that includes displays, full detailed designs and proper bi-directional communication? If not, why not?

 

Answer

A similar question was asked earlier by Kate Benson. You are right. The consultations, one in 2019 and one in 2020 and a more recent statutory consultation on the bridleway creation order for a small section of the route along Jubilee Avenue was held between 30 March and 7 May this year. This element of the route was a small part of the whole route and related solely to the Order itself rather than being a wider consultation on the Greenway proposals or of the design. This is why the plans and the notices were limited to the area that the bridleway would cover.  In light of the consultation works that have already taken place, we do not intend on carrying out a further consultation.  However, we will be preparing a wider response document replying to all comments and queries raised during this particular statutory consultation and in conjunction with this we will be carefully considering how to proceed with this stage of the greenways programme.

We are aware that many of the concerns that residents have raised have been about the impact of the proposed scheme on wildlife.  The Council has already commissioned and received an independent Preliminary Ecological Appraisal of the area as part of the feasibility design. That doesn’t show any concerns for the wildlife.

To ensure safety of residents and users of the Greenway we will also be installing a formal crossing point at Milton Road as part of the scheme. So, the consultation has taken place and the notices are there.

Supplementary Question

The only consultation that I have seen was for the Greenway as a whole. This route was designated to go down Holt Lane which would have been far more acceptable than what is currently being proposed. The destruction of the woodland is unlikely to be an acceptable compromise for the residents and room for a proper cycleway on the road would be better. It is a quiet road for cycling and should be treated the same as Clifton Road with some improvements to the roundabout junction. Residents are very confused by this bridleway. Is there a better way to communicate this to the residents, such as a visual display, something that can be put up so they can ask questions?

Supplementary Answer

The visual displays are there Imogen, but I am happy that we will be producing a response document replying to all the questions that have been raised. Let’s wait to see that document go out.