Agenda item

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

A question was submitted in time to be included with the Agenda and is attached.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice a member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring district and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

One question had been submitted as set out below;

Question one

From Councillor Everett to Councillor White, Chairman of the Planning Committee;

“Members will only be too aware that we have been blessed with a long and hot summer this year. This has had the effect of encouraging many more tourists to our area than we have hitherto attracted. Our region predominantly relies on tourism for its main income. To have that activity disrupted by road works causing traffic jams for tourists only serves to discourage those same tourists from re-visiting the area.

Is it a concern to the Chairman that these tourists coming in increasing numbers are being put off visiting our area again because they encounter long queues on our main tourist routes often caused by roadworks associated with increased housing development? Numerous examples are available to cite regarding this issue including but not limited to the experience of Kirby Cross. There have been many traffic jams in Kirby Cross this summer created in association with one particular housing development and this has affected anyone travelling to and from Frinton and Walton – and in one case with queues stretching back as far as Thorpe-le-Soken.

Will the Chairman instruct Officers to bring proposals to this Committee on how to include in all planning permissions given by this Local Planning Authority a condition that prevents road works on all our major tourist routes from disrupting vehicle movement during the peak season? This may or may not require such works to take place at night during peak season and / or restricting work to take place out of the peak season completely. Meanings of peak season, times of day and major routes will need to be defined.”

Councillor White replied as follows;

I would like to thank Councillor Everett for raising this question. Maintaining effective transport within our district for residents, business and visitors is an aspiration that I am sure we all share.

I will ask officers to talk to their colleagues at the County Council about the issues that can be caused by works within the highways during the peak tourism season. This is because the agreement of Essex County Council as highways authority is needed to undertake works within the highways whereas planning permission from this council is not required and so the works can proceed without its approval.

If the number and length of road works carried out at peak times can be reduced, that will be of benefit to all. However, the desire to keep the roads running freely will need to be balanced with the need to enable development to proceed and to avoid unduly delaying construction.

In addition, we must not lose sight that roadworks are carried out for many reasons. These can include works by statutory undertakers to maintain or improve existing infrastructure, such as upgrading and replacing sewers, or telecommunications supplies. Other works are covered by the Public Utilities Streetworks Act that allows utilities to work on the highway without giving any notice to deal with emergencies such as electricity faults, gas or water leaks. In addition the creation of new or improved access points to enable development to sites for such things as adding broadband. These all add to affecting highways and cause hold-ups.

This Council does impose conditions requiring Construction Method statements on some developments. These may include control over working times on site but cannot control off site matters.

I appreciate there have been a number of hold-ups in our district this year. I will ask officers to contact Essex County Council to see if they can help in reducing the number, particularly on our main tourist routes in years to come.