Agenda item

To vary S106 Agreement to allow changes to Highway Obligation

Park View Phase Three, Hadston Road, Hadston, Morpeth, Northumberland

To vary S106 Agreement to allow changes to Highway Obligation

Park View Phase Three, Hadston Road, Hadston, Morpeth

Northumberland

An introduction to the report was provided by C Harvey, Senior Planning Officer with the aid of a power point presentation. 

A statement from Councillor S Dickinson, Ward Councillor, who was unable to attend the meeting was read out by L Little, Senior Democratic Services Officer and included the following:

·       Druridge Bay Country Park was one of the Jewels in Northumberland’s Crown.

·       For more than 6 years they had been campaigning for the crossing to be improved for locals who walked to the beautiful venue and all its facilities.

·       Working with both East Chevington Parish Council and Highways, a solution had been put forward which met Highways legislation.  It was not 100% ideal and was not what residents would like in totality, but it was a start, and a step in the right direction.

·       He asked that the Committee supported the recommendations and allowed the improvement works, which could be added to in future years to make the crossing even safer, to commence. 

·       The Committee were thanked for taking the time to consider the application and he hoped that it would support them in starting to create what would be a safer passage for local people to the Country Parks.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the following information was provided:-

·       The Parish Council had been party to discussions on the amended proposals and were supportive.

·       The proposals for a safer crossing point had been assessed as part of the original application when it was considered by Committee and had been deemed acceptable at that time.  During the build out of the development and discussions on the technical issues, the Highways Technical Services Team had raised concerns on the proposed signalised crossing on highways safety grounds due to it being on a very fast straight stretch of road.  Discussions were then undertaken with the Parish Council and Local Ward Member in order to agree a scheme which provided maximum safety for users.

·       The speed limit on the road would remain at 60 mph.

L Sinnamon, Development Service Manager advised that there was an amendment to the recommendation as outlined in the report which should read as follows:-

“A variation to the S106 agreement dated 21.2.2017 to remove the obligation for a signalised pedestrian crossing to be swapped for other highway safety measures to be varied in the manner as set out in the report”

Councillor Flux proposed acceptance of the revised recommendation as outlined above which was seconded by Councillor Stewart.

Members in discussing the proposed changes advised that whilst this was not a perfect solution it was better than the original proposal and did have the support of both the Parish Council and the Local Ward Member.  In the long term it was suggested that the Local Ward Member could continue to work to reduce the speed limit on that stretch of road. 

A vote was taken and it was unanimously

RESOLVED that a variation to the S106 agreement dated 21.2.2017 to remove the obligation for a signalised pedestrian crossing to be swapped for other highway safety measures to be varied in the manner as set out in the report be APPROVED.

Councillor Dodd left the Chamber at this point.