Meeting Report

Regarding: Date: EDF Energy Hinkley Point C: Transport 24 May 2011 Forum

Attending: David Eccles EDF Energy (in the Peter Malim OBE Stogursey Parish Council Chair) Steve Mannings EDF Energy Colin Allen Cannington Parish Council John Marriott Otterhampton Parish Council Doug Bamsey Sedgemoor District Nick Matthews Devon & Somerset FRS Council Mike O’Dowd-Jones Somerset County Council Lynn Basford JMP on behalf of SCC Jackie Palmer EDF Energy David Bird SBA on behalf of EDF Gary Perrett Hinkley Point Cyclists Energy Victoria Rowland SBA on behalf of EDF Energy Andrew Goodchild West Somerset Charles St George PPS Council Paul Hanafin Royal Haskoning Observer: Alan Hurford Bridgwater Town Council Judi Fisher Bridgwater Town Council Ian Lockwood EDF Energy

Item Action 1. Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 April 2011 and Matters Arising The minutes were approved subject to the correct spelling of Gary Perrett’s name.

The following matters arising were raised:

• M/A item 10: Stogursey Parish Council found that they already had a radar gun. No further action required from EDF Energy.

• M/A item 14: DB said that the residential developer responsible for

providing improvements to the junction of Bristol Road/Wylds Road in

Bridgwater had provided information to EDF Energy that was currently

being reviewed (see item 7 below).

• M/A item 20: EDF Energy had provided a drawing to SCC of the

revised arrangement for the emergency access road onto Shurton

Item Action Lane.

• Agenda item 3: Combwich AILs. EDF Energy to provide information EDFE – JP soon as available.

• Agenda item 3: Combwich working hours. Points made at the last meeting were under consideration and EDF Energy would report back at the next meeting. JM emphasised that this was a sensitive issue in the village and asked that EDF Energy deal directly with Otterhampton EDFE – JP Parish Council on this matter rather than through the Transport Forum. JM DB said that Sedgemoor District Council would also like to be involved in this discussion. JP said that EDF Energy was already due to meet to discuss this with the Combwich Action Group. It was agreed a direct meeting would be set up between EDF Energy and the Parish Council to discuss working hours.

• Agenda item 11: AH asked when SCC would provide the technical SCC information to Bridgwater Town Council about proposed highway improvements in the town. LB indicated that this could be expected from SCC shortly.

2. Membership of the Transport Forum Councillor Ann Bown’s request to join the Forum for was discussed. Members reiterated their previous position that the size of the Transport Forum should be limited to facilitate discussion and that membership was for organisations rather than individuals. It was pointed out that Councillor Bown could attend meetings as a representative of either Sedgemoor District Council or Cannington Parish Council but this would need to be agreed with the respective organisation.

Doug Bamsey undertook to speak to Councillor Bown about Sedgemoor’s SDC – Doug representation on the Transport Forum. Bamsey

3. Cannington Improvements for Site Preparation Works DB outlined proposed mitigation in Cannington for the site preparation works applications to include:

• Parking management at the Memorial Junction and in the High Street.

Item Action • Pedestrian crossing facilities including a new pelican crossing.

• HGV route through the village.

He said that EDF Energy had been undertaking pedestrian surveys in the village and outlined their conclusions as follows:

• Approximately 900 daily pedestrian crossing movements in High Street to the west of the Memorial Junction. Nearly half take place away from the existing Zebra crossing.

• Relatively high level of mobility impaired movements across the Zebra

crossing.

• There are more pedestrian crossings made across Main Road,

immediately south of East Street where there are no existing

pedestrian facilities, than at the existing signalised crossing south of

Duke Avenue.

• The Duke Avenue signalised crossing was used predominantly by

under 16’s.

In response to a question about how the age profile of pedestrians had been

determined, DB said that this was a judgement exercised by the survey team

rather than a precise figure.

In terms of the proposed HGV route, DB said that a report had been submitted by EDF Energy to SCC outlining three options: a one-way system; the High Street route; and Main Road. SCC and EDF Energy had concluded that the High Street route should be adopted because:

• Main Road included a sharp bend with poor visibility.

• The primary school was located on Main Road. Brymore School was set back from the High Street and the children were older.

• Existing traffic flows on Main Road were x2 or x3 higher than on the High Street and this route would therefore help to balance traffic flows.

CA asked whether consideration had been given to providing a Pelican

Item Action crossing on Rodway. SCC indicated that they would be happy to consider this if the pedestrian flow figures justified it. DB agreed to investigate further.

CA asked if the order had yet been placed for yellow line restrictions at the Memorial Junction. In response, it was confirmed that the orders had not yet been placed. CA emphasised the importance of the yellow lines being in place for the start of site preparation works.

CA accepted that the High Street route for HGVs was the least worst option in the absence of other solutions.

The following conclusions were reached by the Transport Forum:

• The High Street route for HGVs was the best of the options available.

• The Zebra crossing in the High Street should be changed to a Pelican

crossing.

• Options would be produced about what could be done to encourage

use of the Pelican crossing rather than an existing desire line across

Rodway.

• The possibility of a Rodway crossing would be considered. EDFE – DB • Options would be produced about how two HGVs could pass outside the Congregation Church in the High Street where road widths were reduced because of on-street parking. EDFE – DB

DB confirmed that EDF Energy would be coming forward with a detailed mitigation strategy for Cannington for public consultation. The aim would be to implement improvements prior to significant HGV movements in the second EDFE – DB quarter of the site preparation works programme.

4. C182 Improvements JP reported that the formal process for adopting a permanent Rural Clearway on the C182 would take at least 6 months. For site preparation works, EDF Energy/SCC had the option of a temporary Rural Clearway which could be in place early on for a period of 6 months with options for up to x3 renewals. This would allow sufficient time for the permanent arrangement to be put in

Item Action place.

PM asked whether the nature of the signage would be different between a permanent and temporary Clearway. JP confirmed that signage would be different but the temporary solution would only be implemented if the permanent permission had not come through in time.

In terms of the Otterhampton junction on the C182, JP said that EDF Energy had undertaken traffic surveys that suggested there was no problem at present EDFE – JP with the junction. This situation will be reassessed when the traffic model has been agreed and the findings reported back to the Forum.

In terms of the proposed 50 mph speed limit along the C182 a formal view was

still awaited from the Police. SCC has agreed it is a good idea in principle and

is now considering how it needs to comply with the guidance. This process is

likely to take about 6 months.

Topographical studies are currently being undertaken in relation to the

proposed Claylands Corner realignment. Road safety audits have been

undertaken in relation to both options and they don’t appear to show a

problem. These audits are being sent to SCC for their comments.

The application for signage in relation to the proposed horse crossing at Wick

had been agreed by the Department for Transport (DFT). Topographical

surveys and the safety audit were all ok and a report on the proposal had now

been sent to SCC for review. Consultation was taking place with the

landowner and designs for the waiting area to the north were being looked at.

PM said that horse crossing signs in the vicinity of Doggetts on the C182 had also been suggested. EDF Energy agreed to look at this option. EDFE - DB

5. Combwich Laydown Area JP said that the maximum number of storage containers that could be stored in the Combwich laydown area was 952 with a capacity of 618 in the southern area.

JM asked whether the containers were coming in by sea and whether EDFE would use the full capacity of the site. A: JP said that it was too early to provide a detailed profile of the requirement for containers most of which would

Item Action be coming in by sea.

Doug Bamsey asked about containers coming into Combwich by road. A: This will only happen in an emergency for a short period of time.

JM asked whether the Parish Council or Combwich residents would get prior notice of containers coming in via road. A: There might not be time to do this in an emergency.

6. Williton Buses PH said that the majority of work on assessing the routes for buses to take from the Williton park and ride to the HPC site had now been completed but the findings had not yet been presented to SCC.

He said that EDF Energy was looking at buses seating up to 27 people which were 7.8 metres long and 2.4 metres wide. Initial findings were:

• No problem with this size of bus on the A39 route.

• Some pinch points on the route from the A39 via Stringston but this

road was already used by buses and there were passing places.

• Widths through Stogursey were restricted but, again, this was an

existing bus route and the buses proposed by EDF Energy would get

through.

• Estimate was that there would be 1 bus in each direction every 15

minutes during the shift change over periods.

PM reiterated that Stogursey Parish Council’s position was that the route via

Stringston through Stogursey was totally unacceptable. This view was also

held by the Stringston Parish Meeting. Existing bus routes were a red herring

as these were local services serving these communities. Restrictions in the

village of Stogursey near the school and as a result of on-street parking would

mean considerable disturbance for villagers during anti-social hours.

7. Bridgwater Improvements DB said that the base traffic model had been agreed with SCC for the years 2013, 2016 and 2021 without HPC development. The next task was to run the model with HPC traffic included. Once this had been done, the model would

Item Action be used to test the proposed improvements in the Bridgwater area.

In terms of the Taunton Road/Broadway junction two options would be tested – one improvement entirely within existing highway land and the second involving third party land.

For the Cross Rifles roundabout, EDFE would be trying to facilitate the existing SCC improvement scheme linked to the North East Bridgwater development.

At the Bristol Road/Wylds Road junction EDFE had proposed a right turn ban from Bristol Road but details had been provided by David Wilson Homes about their proposed staggered 4-way junction. No application had come forward yet from the developer but EDFE would continue to liaise with David Wilson Homes on this matter.

Doug Bamsey said that banning right turn movements from Bristol Road would impact on other junctions and this needed to be taken into account. AH asked whether it would be possible to have a right turn ban for EDFE contractors only. A: SCC had asked that a total of x3 junctions should be considered. The latter point was a suggestion made by SCC but there were practical problems.

8. Cycling and Walking VR outlined the work that EDF Energy was undertaking in this area:

• An audit of pedestrian corridors for all associated development sites had been undertaken that SCC has commented on.

• A cycling audit had also been undertaken within 5 kilometres of all associated development sites.

• A wish list of improvements was currently being discussed with SCC.

• Next step is to develop illustrative maps showing key routes and

potential improvement points. Improvements will be considered as part

of mitigation for the impact of HPC construction, potential legacy

benefits and interaction with the HPC Travel Plan.

• Funding for potential improvements will need to be prioritised.

She said that discussions were on going with SCC and the next meeting with

Item Action them to discuss walking/cycling was scheduled for the end of the month.

During the discussion the following points and questions were raised:

• GP said there was strong demand from HP A+B stations for people to cycle to work. The best solution was a coastal route to Hinkley Point with an enhancement route from Combwich to the Cannington park and ride site. He said that his group was currently preparing a survey of the local area with photographic evidence and statistical analysis. This will go to EDF Energy via SCC. A: EDFE hadn’t ruled out looking at cycle routes to Hinkley Point – some elements of the route might be provided through Steart improvements.

• GP said that a cycle route from the end of the Cannington bypass to

Combwich was also a consideration.

• MO-J said that SCC was not approaching the issue with a narrow

focus. EDFE traffic on the C182 would make life impossible for

cyclists and this needed to be addressed.

• PM asked about potential routes from Bridgwater to Cannington?

These were not within the 5 km radius. Has the whole route been

reviewed as there were people cycling from Bridgwater to Hinkley

Point? AH commented that a review of the Bridgwater to Hinkley

Point route was essential. A: VR said that EDFE has been focusing on EDFE - VR key routes so far and that the final scope of the surveys hadn’t been agreed. She agreed to liaise to discuss the scope of work with SCC and GP.

• Doug Bamsey said that the interests of cyclists and pedestrians needed to be considered in terms of the proposed highway improvements. A: VR confirmed that this would be included within the scope of works on highway improvements.

AH asked whether cycle routes in the vicinity of Junctions 23 and 24 would be considered. A: VR confirmed this would be within the scope of the surveys.

Item Action

9. Enabling Works JP reported that restrictions had been agreed with SCC on the routes of HGV deliveries in relation to the enabling works contract. EDFE would therefore seek the discharge of the relevant planning condition.

10. Any Other Business DE requested that MO-J from SCC attend future meetings of the Transport Forum wherever possible.

PM raised the issue of lighting on the southern roundabout at Hinkley Point which SCC had suggested and EDF Energy was considering. Stogursey Parish Council did not see the need for this and did not want lighting on the SCC – MO-J roundabout. MO-J said that he would double check whether lighting was essential at this roundabout.

DB reported that plans for improvements at Sandford Corner near Cannington and at the Washford Cross junction between Williton and Minehead were proceeding.

In terms of Sandford Corner both SCC and Wembdon Parish Council had

agreed this improvement should go-ahead but that a monitoring plan would be

put in place in case it caused rat running issues in Wembdon. A residual fund

would be available from EDF Energy to mitigate any impacts in Wembdon.

AH asked that the programme and timing for highway improvements be EDFE/PPS discussed at the next meeting of the Transport Forum.

14. Date of Next Meeting This was confirmed as Tuesday 28 June 2011 at the Holiday Inn in Taunton starting at 6pm.