Adran yr Economi, Gwyddoniaeth a Thrafnidiaeth Department for Economy, Science and Transport Eich cyf/Your ref Ein cyf/Our ref ATISN 9531 James M J Hewitt [email protected] 9 July, 2015 Dear Mr Hewitt Request for Information – ATISN 9531 I wrote to you on 22 June 2015 regarding your request for information. In your request you asked for all correspondence including letters and e-mails sent to the Forest of Dean District Council and circulated internally by the Welsh Government made in respect of Highway issues relating to the Forest of Dean District Council Outline Planning Application P1530/14/OUT. I can confirm that we hold information relating to your request which I have enclosed at Annex 1 of this document. Some names have been redacted under Section 40(2), (third party personal data) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. The reason for applying this exemption is set out at Annex 2 of this document. Please note that the Welsh Ministers hold no authority to comment or direct Planning Applications outside of Wales. If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response. Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at: Information Rights Unit, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, [email protected]. Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process. Yours sincerely Claudia Currie Route Engineer Cathays Park - 2 Cardiff [email protected] CF10 3NQ www.gov.wales Annex 1 From: Welsh Government Sent: 13th October 2014 11:43 To: South Wales Truck Road Agent Re: RE: Planning Application Consultation: P1530/14/OUT I was not aware of this development, but we were consulted on one nearer to the Welsh Border which would have a small impact on the bridge. I have cut and pasted the comments below as there is nothing much we can suggest other than improvements for pedestrians as the Welsh Ministers have no authority over the Planning Authorities in England. OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR UP TO 110 HOMES, PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, LANDSCAPING, HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING WORKS ON LAND AT BEACHLEY ROAD, SEDBURY, NP16 7AA The proposal for 110 new homes in Sedbury will generate a proportion of walking trips over the A48 bridge as a result of its relative position to Chepstow and its services. The Welsh Government (Transport) as highway authority for the motorway and trunk roads in Wales therefore advises that any consent your Authority may grant should be subject to a Section 106 agreement that secures an appropriate contribution from the developer towards any option for the A48 bridge that may come forward. An options report is currently being worked up which will consider Trief kerbing, pedestrian guard railing and speed limit reduction. The outcome of the report may recommend the options in isolation or as a package of combined measures. Regards - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: South Wales Trunk Road Agent Sent: 7th October 2014 17:33 To: Welsh Government Subject: FW: Planning Application Consultation: P1530/14/OUT Hi Are you aware of the development in Tutshill attached? It is quite a distance away from our boundary with Gloucestershire CC but wondered if you have any concerns on this development and whether it may impact on any future proposals along the Wye Bridge. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Forest of Dean Government Sent: 30 September 2014 12:10 To: South Wales Trunk Road Agent Subject: Planning Application Consultation: P1530/14/OUT Please see attached document Forest of Dean District Council Planning Division Council Offices High Street Coleford Glos GL16 8HG For the attention of: Our Ref: qA1152707 Your Ref: P1792/13/OUT 21st March 2014 Dear Sir, TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE) (WALES) ORDER 2012: OUTLINE APPLICATION FOR UP TO 110 HOMES, PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, LANDSCAPING, HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING WORKS ON LAND AT BEACHLEY ROAD, SEDBURY, NP16 7AA I refer to your consultation letter dated 28th March 2014 with regard to the above planning application. The proposal for 110 new homes in Sedbury will generate a proportion of walking trips over the A48 bridge as a result of its relative position to Chepstow and its services. The Welsh Government (Transport) as highway authority for the motorway and trunk roads in Wales therefore advises that any consent your Authority may grant should be subject to a Section 106 agreement that secures an appropriate contribution from the developer towards any option for the A48 bridge that may come forward. An options report is currently being worked up which will consider Trief kerbing, pedestrian guardrailing and speed limit reduction. The outcome of the report may recommend the options in isolation or as a package of combined measures. Yours faithfully, Welsh Government Ministerial Correspondence from the Minister of Economy, Science & Transport Ref: EH/06222/14 From: Welsh Government Sent: 01 December 2014 16:24 To: Welsh Government Subject: FW: Forest of Dean District Council (mail reference 917786) For a jacket please. Regards - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: South Wales Transport Trunk Road Agent Sent: 01 December 2014 16:20 To: Welsh Government Subject: FW: Forest of Dean District Council (mail reference 917786) Importance: High Please see e-mail below as requested by XXXXXXX below that I forward to you. A background note will be completed in relation to this and sent to you when completed. Thanks - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: South Wales Transport Trunk Road Agent Sent: 01 December 2014 14:31 To: Welsh Government Subject: FW: Forest of Dean District Council (mail reference 917786) Importance: High Good afternoon Please see below an e-mail from XXXXXXX in relation to a planning application. We have drafted a response below, could you please let me know if this is ok to send out? Regards - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: South Wales Trunk Road Agent Engineer Sent: 27 November 2014 16:17 To: South Wales Trunk Road Agent Subject: RE: Forest of Dean District Council (mail reference 917786) Please process following response Dear Mr With reference to your email enquiry dated the 13th November 2014, I would confirm that the South Wales Trunk Road Agent (SWTRA) received an email from Forest of Dean Council on the 24th February 2014 in relation to the planning application for 110 homes in Sedbury. All planning comments made by SWTRA are normally passed to the Welsh Government, who as Highway Authority for Motorway and Trunk Roads in Wales, to provide the official response to the Forest of Dean Council. I would also advise that Welsh Ministers have no authority over planning authorities in England. I trust this information is of assistance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: South Wales Trunk Road Agent enquiries Sent: 26 November 2014 12:27 To: South Wales Trunk Road Agent Engineer Subject: Forest of Dean District Council (mail reference 917786) Importance: High I have logged in this enquiry and the mail number is 917786 and I have filed electronically on DC12. Regards - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From: Enquirer Sent: 13 November 2014 19:33 To: South Wales Trunk Road enquiries Subject: Forest of Dean District Council Importance: High Good evening I am a lawyer and represent a group on a pro bono basis and which is opposed to the planning application for a further 120 houses in NP16 7PS and whilst a Welsh post code is marginally in England. It is indeed Tutshill. Recently an Inspector for the Appeals process (in England) dealt with an application on appeal for some 110 houses in Sedbury again NP16 but again in England. His report was silent upon upon comment from the Agency. Thus he could only deal with what was before him and on appeal planning was granted. Thus you have in future much more traffic coming into Wales. If Tutshill is granted then Allaston and Lydney you have some 600 more cars coming into Wales. It is a fact that the planning portals for all developments at Coleford are silent and with no comments from the Agency. Indeed I go further and the FODDC will allege I say that they contacted you as to the impact upon the A48 in Wales but you did not respond? They were pointed in your direction by Monmouthshire CC and you might be interested in this............ Quite obviously this it is alleged is a serious matter and without