Agenda item

(To receive a report by Ian Kitchen, Transport Policy Manager, which outlines the Department for Transport (DfT's) proposal to create a Major Road Network (MRN) comprising the economically important local authority A roads to complement the national motorway and strategic trunk roads)

Consideration was given to a report from Ian Kitchen, Transport Policy Manager, which outlined the Department for Transport (DfT's) proposal to create a Major Road Network (MRN) comprising of the most economically important local authority 'A' Roads to complement the national motorway and strategic trunk roads.

Attached to the report were the following Appendices:-

·         Appendix A - National DfT Indicative Major Network;

·         Appendix B -  DfT Indicative Major Road Network for Lincolnshire;

·         Appendix C – Proposed Midlands Connect Major Road Network; and

·         Appednix D - Proposed Lincolnshire Major Road Network. 

The Committee was advised that as part of the Government's Transport Investment Strategy published in July 2017, commitment was given to creating a MRN across England.  The MRN would comprise of economically important local authority 'A' roads and complement Highways England's Strategic Road Network.  It was highlighted that initial work on identifying a Major Road Network had been carried out through the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, which had been published in late 2016.

A full explanation of how the Department for Transport was proposing to define the networks was detailed on page 20 of the report.  Appendix A to the report provided details of the National DfT Indicative Major Road Network; and Appendix B detailed the DfT Indicative Major Road Network for Lincolnshire.  The roads put forward by the DfT were the A15 north of Lincoln, A16, A17, A57 and A46 (between A57 and A15). 

Appendix C to the report provided the latest proposal across the Midlands Connect area; and Appendix D provided more detail on the proposal for Lincolnshire.  The Lincolnshire roads put forward for inclusion over those proposed by the DfT were:-

·         A158 Lincoln to Skegness;

·         A52 Boston to Grantham; and

·         A15 Sleaford to Peterborough.

The Committee was advised that it was proposed that Lincolnshire's response reflected the above proposals.

The Committee was advised that the DfT was seeking to ensure that the MRN supported long-term strategic needs to make best use of the targeted funding being made available from the National Roads Fund.  For this to happen, there were proposals for a strong regional focus for investment planning within a consistent national network.  It was reported that to achieve this DfT was suggesting that Sub-National Transport Bodies (STBs) were best place to carry out this role.  It was highlighted that where STBs were yet to be formed, proposals were that Local Authorities (LAs) and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) should form agreed regional groups to manage the work.  Page 21 of the report outlined what the key steps in this process would be; and page 22 highlighted which schemes would be eligible and what the overarching objectives of the Government were for the funding.

It was reported that the closing date for responses to the DfTs consultation was Monday 19 March 2018; following which a formal DfT consultation response would be published during the summer of 2018.

The Committee was invited to comment on the DfTs proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network.

During a short discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·         One member felt that the A1121 from Swineshead to Boston and the Birchwood to Skellingthorpe (A158) should have been included.  The Committee was advised that the A1121 was considered; but it was felt that the A52 was the better choice due to the importance of the route to the key agri-food industries in the south of the county;

·         Most members welcomed the investment, and the proposals as detailed in Appendix D to the report.

RESOLVED

That the Committee supported the proposals as detailed in Appendix D to the report.