Agenda Item No.8 ABC

REPORT TO: Planning Committee

DATE: 23 May 2006

DEPARTMENT Development Services

REPORTING OFFICER: Head of Planning (Mr P H Fisher, Conservation Officer)

SUBJECT: A1 Motorway (Dishforth to Barton) Draft Orders

WARD/S AFFECTED: Newby, Wathvale

FORWARD PLAN REF: N/A

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 The purpose of the report is to seek Members views on the proposals of the Highways Agency to upgrade the existing A1 between Dishforth and Barton (the southern end of the A1(M) Durham Motorway) to motorway standard and to put them forward to the Highways Agency.

1.2 The Cabinet Members for Planning and Transport have been consulted on the content of this report and their views will be reported to the meeting.

2.0 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 That the proposals to upgrade the A1 between Dishforth and Barton to motorway standard be welcomed and supported.

3.0 RECOMMENDED REASONS FOR DECISION

3.1 The proposed upgrading of the A1 to motorway standard will

• reduce current high levels of accidents

• reduce congestion and enhance journey time reliability

• have minimal adverse effect on the environment and local residents.

4.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTION CONSIDERED AND RECOMMENDED FOR REJECTION

4.1 Not to comment on the proposals to upgrade the A1. This is rejected as it would deny the Council the opportunity to make its views known to the Highways Agency. 4.2 To submit a different response. This is rejected as the response recommended is considered appropriate.

5.0 THE REPORT

5.1 Statutory procedures

5.1.1 In June 2002, the Minister for Transport announced proposals for the upgrading of the existing 25 mile (40 km) section of the A1 in North between Dishforth and Barton to dual three-lane motorway. This forms part of a long term plan gradually to upgrade the whole of the A1 to motorway standard between and Newcastle.

5.1.2 Public consultation on the route alignment took place in June 2005. The preliminary design of the schemes was then developed, taking account of comments received from County and District Councils, Parish Councils, statutory consultees and members of the public. The scheme has now progressed to Preferred Route announcement and publication of the Environmental Statement and Draft Orders.

5.1.3 Publication of the Draft Orders allows the proposals to be publicly scrutinised and formal comments to be received in the form of support, objection or other representation. If there are unresolved objections to the proposals, then a Public Inquiry into the Draft Orders will be held before an independent Inspector. Everyone who has objected, supported or made other representation about the Draft Orders will be notified of the date of the venue at least six weeks beforehand and notices will appear in the local press.

5.1.4 Copies of the Draft Orders, Statement of Reasons, Explanatory Statement and Non-Technical Summary have been made available for public inspection at the Council Offices, Crescent Gardens. Further copies are available for inspection at the Department of Development Services, Knapping Mount. Copies have also been placed in the Members’ Room. Any comments must be made to the Highways Agency, 9th Floor West, City House, New Station Street, Leeds LS1 4UR before 9 June 2006.

5.2 Statement of Reasons

5.2.1 The reasons for making the Draft Orders are set out in the Highways Agency’s Statement of Reasons and are as follows:

‘This section of the A1 forms part of the strategic north/south route on the eastern side of the country between London and serving the needs of industry, local businesses and communities, tourist and long distance traffic. At Scotch Corner the A1 connects with the A66, the main trans-Pennine route between the A1 and the M6 at Penrith.

The existing A1 is an all-purpose two-lane dual carriageway carrying in the region of 45,000 – 50,000 vehicles per day with approximately 25% being heavy good vehicles. The route generally follows the ‘’ Roman Road, except for deviations at Leeming and Catterick. Constructed in the 1950s and early 1960s the existing A1 fails to meet present day standards for layout and alignment. There are a number of sub-standard private accesses, central reserve crossings and local road junctions.

Slow moving agricultural vehicles use the route to enter and exit farms and fields adjoining the A1. The route has a poor accident record that causes congestion and journey time reliability problems.

The Highways Agency proposal is to upgrade the A1 Trunk Road between Dishforth and Barton to dual three-lane Motorway standard. The proposal is generally on the line of the existing road with a localised off- line section near Catterick to the west of Bainesse Farm.

Motorway junctions are proposed at Dishforth, Baldersby, Leeming, Catterick Central, Scotch Corner and Barton.

A Local Access Road will be provided where appropriate to meet the needs of local and non-motorway traffic. Care has been taken to meet the needs of equestrians, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport, both local and long distance.’

5.3 The proposals

5.3.1 The proposal provides for the upgrading of the A1 to dual three-lane motorway between Dishforth and Barton and for the provision of a local access road between Baldersby and Leeming junctions, between Low Street and Catterick Central junction and between Catterick North and Scotch Corner junction. Elsewhere, the Highways Agency consider that the existing local road network will provide adequately for local and non- motorway traffic. Between Baldersby and Leeming junctions the local service road will follow the line of the existing northbound carriageway with the motorway itself being relocated to the east. Full details of the proposals are shown in the Draft Orders.

5.3.2 No local service road is proposed between Dishforth and Baldersby junctions. At first sight, this seems an unfortunate omission. However, discussion with an officer of the Highways Agency has indicated that the amount of local and non-motorway traffic between Dishforth and Baldersby junctions is very small (about 100 vehicles per day) which would not justify the provision of a new local service road. Traffic wishing to make this movement will have to use the existing minor roads between Dishforth and Baldersby via Rainton and Hutton Moor. (Following representations at an earlier stage, the recently constructed overbridge between Rainton and Hutton Moor is to be retained to facilitate this movement.)

5.4 Environmental impact

5.4.1 Detailed environmental surveys have been carried out over the past 18 months to assist the preliminary design process and develop mitigation to reduce the overall environmental impact of the proposed route. Proposed environmental measures include

• landscaping to provide visual screening • noise barriers where appropriate • habitat creation for protected species further archaeological investigations. Full details of planned mitigation measures are given in the Environmental Statement.

5.4.2 Upgrading an existing road which already carries very heavy volumes of traffic clearly has much less of an environmental impact on its surroundings than a major road constructed on a totally new alignment and this is reinforced by the generally flat terrain characteristic of the Vale of York.

5.5 Landscape and land use

5.5.1 The scheme has been designed to be sympathetic to the existing landscape character of the area and nearby settlements. Where possible, mature vegetation will be kept and there will be extensive tree and shrub planting to screen views of the road. Wild flower planting will create new habitats along the road. Some agricultural land will be required to construct the scheme. Landowners will be provided with alternative access where appropriate.

5.6 Biodiversity

5.6.1 No Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) are affected within the Harrogate District. There may be scope for designing the proposed balancing ponds in such a way as to enhance biodiversity for both fauna and flora and this suggestion will be put to the Highways Agency.

5.7 Cultural heritage

5.7.1 There would be no direct adverse effect on any listed buildings or scheduled ancient monuments within the Harrogate District.

5.7.2 There is one listed building, York Gate Farmhouse between Baldersby and the Quernhow Cafe, directly adjacent to the present A1 which is in an extremely ruinous condition. It has not been possible to save the building and put it to productive use since, currently, its only possible road access is directly from the A1. The proposed upgrading would place it adjacent to the proposed local service road from which it could be accessed. However, its condition is now so poor that it is really beyond practical repair and its location some 25m from the motorway itself would make it extremely unsuitable for residential occupation. Because it would, in all likelihood, have to be completely rebuilt, this would conflict with established planning policy. There are no other affected listed buildings.

5.7.3 There is an extensive group of tumuli and henge monuments in the parish of Hutton Conyers. However, none of these are nearer than 1.0km to the A1 and it is not considered that the proposals would have significant noise or visual impact beyond that resulting from the present A1.

5.7.4 This Council does not have access to the up-to-date Sites and Monuments Record which lists all non-scheduled monuments and areas of archaeological interest. However, if any SMRs would be affected by the proposals, it may be assumed that these will have been identified by the Heritage Unit at County Council.

5.7.5 There are no conservation areas, historic parks or gardens, or historic battlefields in the vicinity of the route.

5.8 Noise, air and water quality

5.8.1 Low noise surfacing will be used on the new motorway to reduce traffic noise for nearby properties and settlements. In addition, earth mounds and fencing are provided at certain locations to further reduce noise. There will be no significant adverse effects on air quality as a result of the scheme. Balancing ponds and other water flow controls will be provided to reduce the effects of the motorway on pollution and local flooding. The introduction of pollution control measures within the drainage system will further reduce pollution risks and have a significant benefit for water quality.

5.9 Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

5.9.1 To provide for the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, a number of safe motorway crossings are included in the scheme. These will be of benefit to all users. Some diversion of existing crossing points and relocation of routes will be required. The planned local access road has been designed to allow the use of the verges by horse riders, and the provision of new links will maintain existing routes.

6.0 CONCLUSION

6.1 It is considered that the proposed upgrading of the A1 to motorway standard between Dishforth and Barton will have significant benefits for road users and minimal disbenefits for local residents and the environment. The Regional Spatial Strategy supports the improvement and upgrading of the A1 to motorway standard. Members are, therefore, recommended to support the proposals. However, if Members have any particular concerns, these will be made known to the Highways Agency.

Background Papers

A1 Motorway (Dishforth to Barton Appropriation) Order 20 A1 Motorway (Dishforth to Barton Section and Connecting Roads) Scheme 20 A1 Motorway (Dishforth to Barton Side Roads) Order 20 A1 Trunk Road (Dishforth to Barton) (Detrunking) Order 20 A1 Motorway (Dishforth to Barton Section) Compulsory Purchase Order (MP No) 20 Statement of Reasons Leaflet incorporating the Non-Technical Summary and the Preferred Route Announcement

OFFICER CONTACT: Please contact Mr P H Fisher, Conservation Officer if you require any further information on the contents of this report. The officer can be contacted at the Department of Development Services, Knapping Mount, West Grove Road, Harrogate HG1 2AE, by telephone on 01423 556589 or by Email – [email protected].

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT/POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Implications are Positive Neutral Negative A Economy B Environment C Social Equity i) General ii) Customer Care / People

with Disabilities iii) Health Implications D Crime and Disorder Implications

If all comments lie within the shaded areas, the proposal is sustainable.