Issue - meetings

Report No: COU/SE/17/010

(Councillor Sarah Broughton declared a pecuniary interest as she and her husband owned an area of land within strategic site allocation 'Vision 2031 Strategic Site 'North East Bury St Edmunds'. The level crossing under discussion, as set out in Report No: COU/SE/17/010 was located within this strategic site. Councillor Broughton left the meeting during consideration of this item.)

Council considered Report No: COU/SE/17/010, which sought ratification of a letter of objection to Network Rail’s proposed Suffolk Level Crossing Reduction Order.

As part of its proposed Suffolk Level Crossing Reduction Order under the Transport and Works Act 1992,  Network Rail had sought to close an at grade pedestrian crossing and reopen an underpass approximately 400 metres to the west of Cattishall.

The Department for Transport had consulted on the proposed closure of this pedestrian crossing, which went over the Ipswich to Peterborough train line linking the Parishes of Great Barton and Rushbrooke with Rougham, and Bury St Edmunds.

A letter was sent to the Department for Transport on 4 May 2017 from Councillor Alaric Pugh as Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth stating that the Council had objected to the proposal and the reasons for the objection. The Department for Transport had subsequently requested that the objection needed to be ratified by resolution of full Council.

Councillor Alaric Pugh, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including that the Ward and neighbouring Ward Members had been consulted (Councillor Mildmay-White was consulted in place of Councillor Broughton due to Councillor Broughton’s pecuniary interest in this matter) on the proposed reasons for the objection.  In summary, the Council had stated that it wished to work with Network Rail, Berkeley Strategic and Suffolk County Council to bring forward a new steps only bridge (at the cost of Berkley Strategic) that replaced the at grade crossing at Cattishall and to open up the adjacent underpass. Network Rail appeared however, not to support a bridge crossing but only opening up the underpass, therefore this had led to the objection being lodged. No issues had been raised by the Ward Members consulted.

The majority of Members supported the objection as set out in Appendix B.

On the motion of Councillor Alaric Pugh, seconded by Councillor Peter Stevens, and duly carried it was

RESOLVED:

That the letter of objection previously sent to the Department for Transport dated 4 May 2017, as contained in Appendix B to Report No: COU/SE/17/010, be ratified, therefore making a valid objection to Network Rail’s proposed Transport and Works Act 1992 (Suffolk Level Crossing Reduction) Order.

(Councillor Sarah Broughton re-joined the meeting at the conclusion of this item.)