Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Pauline Batstone, Ian Gardner, Mervyn Jeffery and Mark Tewkesbury.

In the absence of the Vice-Chairman, Pauline Batstone, it was

Resolved

That Daryl Turner be appointed Vice-Chairman for the meeting.

There were no declarations by members of disclosable pecuniary interests under the Code of Conduct.

With reference to minute 56, David Jones confirmed that he had no disclosable pecuniary interest to declare but was a member of Christchurch Borough Council and had been Chairman of their Planning Control Committee at which this matter had been discussed.  He had played no part in that discussion and had not formed a view on this so would take part in the discussion and vote.

With reference to minute 56, Margaret Phipps confirmed that she had no disclosable pecuniary interest to declare but had attended Hurn Parish Council meetings at which this matter had been discussed but had not formed a view on this so would take part in the discussion and vote.

With reference to minute 56, Mike Lovell, having not attended the meeting held on 9 June 2016 when consideration of this item had been deferred, took no part in the debate of the application and withdrew from the meeting.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2016 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2016 were confirmed and signed.

Public Speaking

There were no public questions received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(1).

There were no public statements received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(2).

Petitions

There were no petitions received at the meeting in accordance with the County Council’s Petition Scheme.

To consider a report by the Head of Economy (attached).

Further to the Committee meeting held on 9 June, when consideration of planning application 8/16/0126 proposing the relocation of Hurn Roundabout, Christchurch had been deferred pending a site visit, the Committee considered a further report by the Head of Economy seeking planning permission for an improved roundabout east of the existing roundabout at the junction of Christchurch Road, Parley Lane and Avon Causeway, located on the B3073, Hurn Roundabout, Christchurch.

Prior to consideration of the application at the meeting, the Committee had visited the site to see at first hand the current situation, what the proposal entailed and to have a better understanding of what it was designed to achieve. At the site visit, officers pointed out the proposed route of the new carriageways; where the roundabout was to be located; how the scheme was to be engineered and what junction improvements were being planned; how trees and vegetation would be managed; how visibility would be improved; where street lighting would be situated; and where pedestrians and vulnerable road users would be able to cross the roads.

As a consequence of the deferral and the concerns raised by the Committee at that previous meeting, some significant amendments had been made to the original scheme.

With the aid of a visual presentation, photographs and plans, and taking into account the provisions of the Update Sheet, officers described in detail the planning application and its benefits, and highlighted the changes made following the meeting on 9 June 2016.  Those features seen by members on their site visit were highlighted, in particular, the new configuration of the road, where the roundabout would be situated and how the left turn access onto Avon Causeway from the access road was now to be accommodated.

The Update Sheet set out late representations received from Hurn Parish Council, whilst welcoming the amended left turn access arrangements and the inclusion of bollards on the access road, considered there was a need for a pedestrian crossing on Parley Lane and for Blackwater Junction improvements to be completed in advance of these proposals.

A late representation received from Christchurch and East Dorset Councils Partnership broadly supported the application and welcomed the proposal to now site the access onto Avon Causeway further from the crossing, but expressed concern that the scheme was of urban design and was out of keeping with the rural character of the conservation area. They considered that any improvements should reflect the rural setting, be smaller in scale and less obtrusive and lighting to be used should be sensitive and unobtrusive. They were content that the removal of undergrowth and saplings would be beneficial to the conservation area in the medium to long term, that the Grade II listed Riverside Cottages would benefit from their own access road, but considered traffic management to be necessary there. On this basis, they had no objection to raise.

Officers repeated that the purpose of the application was to help reduce congestion on the strategic road network through the northern part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

To answer any questions received in writing by the Chief Executive by not later than 10.00am on Monday 15 August 2016.

No questions were asked under Standing Order 20(2).