Agenda and minutes

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any Personal, Disclosable Pecuniary or other interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillors Emma Webster, Peter Argyle and Brian Bedwell declared an interest in Agenda Item 3, and reported that, as their interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Brian Bedwell introduced the item to the Commission and thanked Members for attending the meeting at late notice.

Councillor Macro was asked to present his reasons for the Call-in to the Commission, in doing so he explained that he was in favour of the proposed scheme but he had two main reasons for concern which he wanted to highlight.

Councillor Macro explained that the westbound carriageway experience significant congestion and the proposed development of Ikea would exacerbate the situation further.

The scheme failed to include the suitable provisions for cyclists and the consultation report appeared to miss the comments raised by the Tilehurst Parish Council.

Councillor Macro advised the Commission that the scheme failed to include an additional lane eastbound and therefore the benefits of the scheme overall were questionable. Councillor Macro suggested that there was suitable land available to extend the eastbound and westbound carriageway as part of the same scheme and that vulnerable turning points along the respective part of the A4 could be avoided via alternative access routes if the additional land was utilised.

Brian Bedwell thanked Councillor Macro for his report and asked Jon Winstanley to present details of the scheme to the Commission and respond to the points raised by Councillor Macro.

Jon Winstanley explained that the scheme involved widening the A4 to the south by approximately 3 metres via the construction of an additional westbound lane. The scheme included an additional 200 metres of eastbound merge lane from Royal Avenue and lengthened the left turn lane on the eastbound approach to Langley Hill by 60 meters.

The total scheme cost was £2.9 million. The Department for Transport (DfT) granted £2 million and the remaining £0.9 million comprised the Local Transport Plan (LTP) grant funding, S106 contributions and the contribution from IKEA.

Jon Winstanley advised that the main issue related to the morning traffic peak. The merging lanes caused congestion and was further exacerbated by the pedestrian crossing which slowed the movement of traffic through the area.

The Highways and Transport Service had conducted a traffic survey as part of the consultation process and established that the split of traffic using the eastbound and westbound lanes was roughly 50% for each.

The Commission was shown a plan of the area which outlined the current line of the road against the highway boundary. Jon Winstanley advised that there were restrictions around the widening of the carriageway due to the highways boundary. It was acknowledged that in order to acquire land outside the highway boundary delivery time of the scheme would be impacted. Jon Winstanley advised the Commission that funds had been granted on the provision that the scheme was completed by 2015.

A project board had been established to oversee the work and it had considered the use of the central hatching in order to provide additional space for an extended carriageway. Jon Winstanley advised that if the option were to be pursued then alternative turning points along the A4 would need to be agreed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.