Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report.

The Committee received a late report on the ECC consultation on the M11 junction 7A (and widening of Gilden Way). They noted that Essex County Council was currently consulting on the provision and design of a new junction 7A on the M11, and the related widening of Gilden Way. The consultation was open until 6^th July 2016. This consultation followed several years of work by the County Council in assessing various options to improve congestion, and also in assessing possibilities for junction 7A design and location. A number of exhibitions would be going around the district. 

The County Council’s own strategic options appraisal had shown that a new junction 7A was the best solution to overcome problems on the transport network in the area, particularly in and around Harlow. It was felt that this would not only benefit the residents, workers and visitors of Harlow, but also those of neighbouring areas such as Epping Forest District, as traffic congestion relating to accessing and exiting the M11, had long been a problem in the local area.

The proposal was for the new junction 7A to sit between junctions 7 (Harlow) and 8 (Bishop's Stortford), to the north east of Harlow town, on land within Epping Forest District. Specifically, the western half of the junction and the access roads into Harlow would sit within Lower Sheering ward, and the eastern half of the junction would sit just within Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village ward.

It was noted that this was being promoted by local authorities as it was not yet in the Highways England budget. The project also creates a spur going nowhere, this was to future proof the scheme but officers were unconvinced about this spur on the consultation. EFDC Members have previously raised concerns over the timing of the ‘future-proofing’ spur and roundabout which form part of Essex County Council’s proposals. It was suggested that the Council included these concerns in its response, suggesting to Essex County Council that the phasing of delivery for these elements would need to be determined by the individual Districts’ Local Plans, which were not yet available.

Councillor Waller, EFDC’s Safer Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder, being unable to attend the meeting, sent in the following comments:

“The so-called ‘future-proofing’ roundabout, which is a prominent feature on the plan, has been added at a late stage to reassure residents of Old Harlow who have been pressing for a northern by-pass of Harlow to relieve traffic on Gilden Way, that one day that by-pass may be built.  Councillor Rodney Bass, the ECC Portfolio Holder, has come under pressure from those residents, but in reality ECC’s consultation document admits that such a by-pass may only be built in 20 years time or more, and currently the economic case for it is untenable.  Because such a by-pass would have to be constructed on stilts crossing the Stort valley, it would be a very prominent feature in the landscape, quite close to Lower Sheering, and will be seen as a threat if the roundabout is included.  The report coming before the Select Committee refers to the ‘future-proofing’ roundabout and suggests that this part of the scheme should be phased, which is a good thing, but it would be even better if the case against the roundabout  (which would require traffic to brake and change gear, causing noise and pollution) could be strengthened.

Although the ECC consultation document incorporates traffic projections for various locations affected by the J7a link, it is notable that they are not included for The Street, Sheering Village and Sheering Lower Road.  When challenged about this, ECC officers have given no good reason for the omissions, bringing about suspicions on the part of the Parish Council and individuals that they have been omitted because traffic is likely to increase.  It would be good to challenge the County Council on this point.”

Essex County Council had set out the following broad timetable in relation to their proposals:

·                Summer 2016 - Analysis of consultation responses, and scheme refinements;

·                Autumn 2016 - Preferred route announcement;

·                Winter 2016 – Planning application to be submitted;

·                Early 2019 – Start of construction, lasting about 2 years.

Officers and Members would continue to engage with Essex County Council (and Highways England) on junction 7A through formal consultations such as this one, and also, more regularly, through the Co-operation for Sustainable Development Member Board and the Co-operation for Sustainable Development Officer Group.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That this Council strongly supported the provision of a new junction 7A on the M11, as it would greatly improve the transport network and traffic management for the area, and it was necessary to support the growth of homes and jobs in the forthcoming Local Plans of EFDC and the other three West Essex/East Herts authorities; and

(2)  That Essex County Council should consider the phasing for delivery of the ‘future-proofing’ spur and roundabout as the need for this would be determined by the District Councils' Local Plans which were not yet available.