Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes from the previous meeting of 30 October 2024.

The minutes from the meeting of 30 October 2024 were signed and agreed as an accurate record.

To determine the application.

This item was withdrawn.

To determine the application.

Tim Williams presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report which had been circulated.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Colin Male, an objector. Mr Male stated that he is a resident of Knights End Road and is responsible for a petition regarding site access, with Knights End Road now being a through road for traffic that requires access or egress onto or from the A141. He made the point that the road has a 30mph restriction, however, not many users are aware of it or adhere to the limit and the footpaths are narrow and as a dog walker he does not feel safe.

Mr Male referred to the presentation screen and explained that the road serves a large number of houses in the lower Cavalry Drive area and with the new development due to take place in Springfield Avenue, Princess Avenue and the site near Neale Wade School then much of the traffic will find its way onto Knights End Road in order to gain access to the bypass. He explained that Knights End Road is not a road like Wisbech Road or The Avenue as both of those are sufficiently wide to cater for large volumes of traffic, with the road having twists and turns and varies in width whilst narrowing quite considerable near the junction with the A141.

Mr Male referred to the presentation screen and explained that the junction is considered by many to be dangerous, due to the fact that it is difficult to judge the speed and distance of traffic especially when coming from the Mill Hill roundabout end when attempting to turn right onto the bypass as the sight line around the bend is very poor. He made the point that by allowing up to 200 more housing units with its inherent car ownership and sole access off of Knights End Road, will only compound the problems for road users and increase the likelihood of an accident at the A141 junction and at the newly created junction at the children’s nursery.

Mr Male explained that the developer has included the provision of a roundabout on the A141 midway between Knights End Road and Burrowmoor Road, but only in Phase 2, following the build out of 200 dwellings and during the planning process he has repeatedly requested that the roundabout is constructed first within Phase 1 in order to allow construction traffic to access the site easily without the need to use Knights End Road and the A141 junction and it will also allow new residents to access the bypass without the need to add to the traffic along Knights End Road. He explained that access to the schools and the town away from the bypass can still be achieved from the new Knights End junction.

Mr Male added that there is a separate application with regards to the construction traffic access but, in his opinion, the solution he has set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item P65/24