Local Transport Board Meeting Note

10.30-12.30 Tuesday 5^th September 2017

Seminar Room, Ground Floor, International Aviation Academy, Norwich.

Board Attendance:

David Cumming

Norfolk County Council

Paul Horne

Suffolk County Council

Graeme Mateer

Suffolk County Council

Cllr James Finch

Suffolk County Council

Chris Starkie

New Anglia LEP

Emily Manser

New Anglia LEP

Joseph Chroston- Bell

Network Rail

Richard Taylor

Network Rail

David Abbott

Highways England

Richard Perkins

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Nick Burfield

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Ollie Starbuck

East Midlands Trains

Andy Bird

East Midlands Trains

Ali Clabburn

Liftshare

Jonathan Denby

Greater Anglia

Nova Fairbank

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

Karl Murphy

Department for Transport

Ian Taylor

Norfolk County Council

Philip Broadbent- Yale

Sustrans

Cllr Guy McGregor

Suffolk County Council

Cllr Martin Wilby

Norfolk County Council

Tracy Jessop

Norfolk County Council

Jonathan Rudd

New Anglia LEP

Christopher Soule

Country Land Owners and Business

Associations

Hannah Grimes

Norfolk County Council

Public attendance:

Carolyn Barnes

East Suffolk District Council

Apologies:

Andrew Bell

Norwich Airport

Chris Wiggan

Stansted

Dave Watson

Suffolk County Council

Jamie Burles

Greater Anglia

John Dugmore

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Larry Heyman

Gt Railway

Marie Finbow

New Anglia LEP

Mark Pendlington

New Anglia LEP

Martin Fellows

Highways England

Paul Davey

Felixstowe Port

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Richard Pace

Norwich Airport

Richard Schofield

Network Rail

Richard Tunnicliffe

Confederation of British industry

Simon Amor

Highways England

Steve Wickers

First Group

Sue Roper

Suffolk County Council

Tom Stead

Network Rail

Welcome and Introductions

Cllr Finch explained Mark Pendlington had asked if he could stand in as Chair

as Mark was unable to make the meeting.

Minutes and matters arising Tuesday 6^th June

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 6^th June were agreed.

Norwich Northern Distributor Road presentation

Ian Taylor presented an aerial video of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road.

Some key points were:

 Postwick Hub opened Christmas 2015



8 bridges in all over the NNDR



There were multiple public utility diversions.



There will be a green bridge on a disused railway.



Construction is aiming to be completed around March 2018.

Richard Perkins stated he was delighted that the road is coming forward as it

will improve access.

Ian informed the Board that the DCO process meant the site clearance was

advanced to commence before the nesting season.

Tracy Jessop explained that the route is through untouched land on a live

network, changes to the weather may change things last minute resulting in

disruption. The PR presence on Facebook with immediate updates has

received a positive response as people appreciate the fact that things change.

4. Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing presentation

Mark Kemp presented to the Board. The presentation is attached.

The following points came up in discussion:

 Linking cycling and walking routes to the Broads is another benefit as

connectivity is important to maintain.

 Mark informed the Board that NCC is in dialogue with the Port and they

are involved in the development of the scheme.

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

Ali Clabburn enquired as to whether the public may be confused by the

fact there are currently two projects using the title of Third River

Crossings, one at Great Yarmouth and the other in Lowestoft.



Mark informed the Board that both Crossings were presented on the

media last night side by side and stated that Lowestoft Lake Lothing

Third River Crossing is a year ahead of the Great Yarmouth Crossing.



David Cumming supported the work underway in Lowestoft and

informed the Board of a package of around £11m of Growth Deal that

is being spent in Great Yarmouth to overcome congestion and

sustainable transport problems.



Chris Starkie also explained that the case is strengthened further for

the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing by Highways England’s

proposals for Vauxhall and Gapton.



Cllr Finch suggested making sure the Lake Lothing and Great

Yarmouth Third River Crossings are integrated and that the

communications teams are clear on the scheme names.



Richard Perkins stated his support for the Great Yarmouth Third River

Crossing as it helps to provide connections between Enterprise Zones,

it is important for South Denes and really beneficial to the nearby

businesses as there are lots of energy companies based nearby.



Richard Taylor explained that in relation to the Lowestoft Lake Lothing

Third River Crossing there is a lengthy asset protection process which

is there for good reasons, therefore early engagement into any

schemes is always beneficial.



Mark informed the Board that the scheme will cost around £120m and

around 20% will be locally funded. The bridge is likely to lift around 15

times a day.

ACTION: HG to circulate the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing

presentation.

Integrated Transport Strategy

David Cumming introduced the Integrated Transport Strategy item which has

been developed alongside the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy. There

is still a bit more work that we felt needed doing. The Strategy is going to be

published after the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy in October, this will

allow the document to take account of the Autumn Budget, further work on the

Action Plan and allow us to plan for further events including engagement with

Government, civil servants and with Ministers. The final version will go

through the adoption process in autumn and receive sign off through the Local

Transport Board and New Anglia LEP Board.

ACTION: All please send any Integrated Transport Strategy comments to Lisa

Roberts at the New Anglia LEP.

Nick Burfield reiterated his previous comments explaining how important

Haverhill is, the fact that the A1307 appears to be missing, the map on page

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18 has no road to Haverhill and that London Stansted appears to be

undervalued.

ACTION: Nick Burfield to invite Lisa Roberts, David Cumming or Graeme

Mateer to discuss the Integrated Transport Strategy at the next Suffolk

Chamber of Commerce Transport Board on Tuesday 10^th October.

Cllr Finch stated that the document needs to provide a clearer message about

what we are trying to say.

Jonathan Denby explained that he would like to see a prioritised Action Plan

which focuses on a clear prioritisation for rail infrastructure. Schemes such as

the Great Eastern Main Line, Trowse, digital signalling, removal of level

crossings and Ely. This would then set specific targets.

David Cumming explained that there was a meeting planned with Metro

Dynamics that had to be cancelled due to personal reasons, he is looking to

reschedule this meeting, the meeting will be looking at the Action Plan and

prioritised list.

ACTION: David Cumming to rearrange the meeting to discuss the Integrated

Transport Strategy.

Chris Soule informed the Board that he did have a meeting in Suffolk about

the roads and how they need to be maintained. Norfolk and Suffolk are rural

areas and we have lots of schemes that need to be addressed and funded.

The Board needs a body of evidence to show that there may be a special

funding issue.

Cllr Finch supported this and explained that the maintenance/ operational

budget is a big challenge.

Ali Clabburn said the Integrated Transport Strategy timetable of actions was

not clear on what we are doing and when. It also anticipates the future rather

than understanding the demand now. Community transport in Norfolk and

Suffolk is currently suffering with insufficient internet access. We also need to

make better use of what we have now.

Philip Broadbent-Yale stated he was pleased to see a focus on cycling, the

transport network needs to build on collaboration between modes.

Cllr McGregor queried why the Sizewell C scheme was in the document as a

case study as EDF have not currently responded to the consultation.

Cllr Finch suggested that the document needs to tie in with other documents

and it needs to be crisper in how it concludes the actions lists and timetables.

It needs to have fundamental principles of what those actions are.

Chris Starkie explained that the Strategy is not an Investment Plan. We are

looking at creating the Action Plan between now and November during this

time the document will be refined.

ACTION: All to send any images to David Cumming/ Graeme Mateer.

ACTION: NCC/ SCC and New Anglia LEP to make sure the above comments

are incorporated into the Integrated Transport Strategy.

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Transport Investment Strategy

Graeme Mateer circulated a paper explaining an A140 study, a new major

roads network, including potential funding, and bids made by Norfolk for

Hempnall and Suffolk for Eye Airfield through the National Productivity

Investment Fund. The A140 is on the current Rees Jeffreys major road

network map but not the A12.

Karl Murphy stated that a consultation is expected in late autumn.

ACTION: HG to circulate the A140 study paper.

Updates



New Anglia LEP Board

Chris Starkie updated the Board. Mark Pendlington will be stepping

down as Chair of the New Anglia LEP at the LEP AGM on Wednesday

20^th September. The new Chair will be Doug Field. The LEP Board has

also appointed two new representatives: Dominic Keen and Sandy

Ruddock from Suffolk. The LEP has asked PWC to review its

operations and processes as it has grown in scale and substance in

the past 3 to 4 years and the LEP wants to ensure systems and

processes are as effective and transparent as they can. The Board is

reviewing its recommendations at its meeting on 20 September. The

review has looked at the sub Boards and their terms of reference.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy has been developed with

local authority and business leaders and the LEP are currently going

through the first draft with stakeholders receiving lots of positive

feedback. The Strategy will be signed off at the October LEP Board

and will go through all 16 local authority sign off processes before then.

Government has also announced a review of LEPs. The Conservative

manifesto explained that funding is going to continue being given to

LEPs.



Chambers of Commerce

Nick Burfield explained that the Chamber have produced a brochure to

promote the A14 in their RIS submission.

ACTION: HG to circulate No More A14 Delays in Suffolk brochure.

Nova Fairbank informed the Board of the upcoming A47 Alliance

business breakfast being held on Thursday 9^th November in Great

Yarmouth.



Road (Highways England, DfT)

David Abbot informed the Board that the A47 preferred routes were

recently announced with the next milestone being the statutory

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consultation in early 2018. The publication of the Strategic Road

Network Initial Report is expected in November 2017. The deadline for

the latest road for growth and housing funds is Friday, the purpose of

the fund is to support developments that are held up due to lack of

funding to deal with strategic road network obstacles.

Karl Murphy updated the Board about the National Productivity

Investment Fund which has £490m to be spent in 2018/19, 2019/20, an

announcement on bids is anticipated in the autumn.



Air (Norwich, Stansted)

No updates.



Rail (Network Rail, Greater Anglia, East Midlands, East West Rail)

Ollie Starbuck informed the Board that the East Midlands Rail

Franchise is currently out for public consultation. The consultation

closes on Wednesday 11^th October.

Richard Taylor informed the Board that work was soon to be underway

to look at options at the Trowse Bridge. Work is also expected to start

in October on the Felixstowe Loop with completion expected in May

2019.

ACTION: Richard Taylor/ Joseph Chroston- Bell to share work on

Trowse with David Cumming at Norfolk County Council.

Jonathan Denby explained that Greater Anglia has had an extensive

look at its new trains and has received over 1,000 comments from the

public. A number of the trains are currently being refurbished. Greater

Anglia is also working with DfT to try to change the compensation

process. He referred to media stories about potential industrial action

by train staff. He explained that Greater Anglia is planning to retain all

conductors along its routes, but is proposing that, on some services,

drivers operate the doors thus freeing up other staff to “do the things

that customers like.” There is no proposal for reducing the numbers of

train staff. Jonathan said that one project which would make a big

difference to increasing service frequency is Haughley Junction

improvements.



Ports (Great Yarmouth, Felixstowe)

No updates.



Buses (First, Ipswich)

No updates.

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 Liftshare

Ali Clabburn explained that Liftshare has updated all of their digital

platforms. You can now reserve parking when making bookings.

Liftshare is also trialling an MTP in North Norfolk which shows different

transport options and community transport. There may be an

opportunity to integrate this with Google Transit. Liftshare is also

lobbying DfT to use Norwich as a demonstration area for car sharing.

 Sustrans

Philip Broadbent-Yale is currently working with the Broads Authority

looking at way making for East Norfolk.

8. Any other business

There was no other business.

9. Date of the next meeting

10.30-12.30 on Tuesday 28^th November in Ipswich.

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