Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION SELECT COMMITTEE - SCRUTINY REVIEW GROUP : LYNDHURST BYPASS PRIORITISATION held at Lyndhurst Community Centre, Lyndhurst on 5 November 2007

PRESENT:

Councillors:

p P.R.C. Hutcheson (Chairman)

Also present:

Professor John Preston, University of Southampton - External expert

Hampshire County Council Officers:

Philippa Smart - Scrutiny Officer, Chief Executive's Department

Colin Hinxman - Group Manager, Democratic Services, Chief Executive's Department

Owain Davies - Researcher, Policy Unit, Chief Executive's Department

1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate declare their interest, and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.

Councillors Dunsdon and Kendal declared personal interests, both as Members of the New Forest District Council and of the New Forest National Park Authority.

2 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

Councillor Hutcheson opened the meeting by welcoming all present and gave a brief explanation as to the history which had led up to the County Council establishing the Review Group to consider prioritisation of a bypass for Lyndhurst. He outlined the scrutiny process of obtaining written evidence and then seeking further oral evidence from selected witnesses. He explained a change to the Programme arising from Councillors no longer requiring the New Forest Verderers to provide oral evidence. The ultimate aim was to evaluate all the evidence, and to prepare a report which would be submitted to the January meeting of Hampshire County Council's Cabinet.

3 ORAL EVIDENCE

The Group received oral evidence from the following witnesses:-

· Councillor Pat Wyeth - New Forest District Council


· Nick Hunt - New Forest District Council


· Carole Gallagher - New Forest District Council


· John Charlesworth - Lyndhurst Parish Council


· Professor Keith Barber - Lyndhurst Parish Council


· Malcolm Woolley - Lyndhurst Parish Council


· Trevor English - Chairman, Lyndhurst Chamber of Trade


· Tony Herbert - Chairman, Lyndhurst Residents Association


· Dr. Martin Lockwood, Brockenhurst Parish Council


· Councillor M.J. Kendal - Executive Member for Environment, Hampshire County Council


· Rachel Green - Natural England


· Judy Halpin - Ecology, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council


· Stephen Trotter - New Forest National Park Authority


· Stuart Jarvis - Deputy Director of Environment, Hampshire County Council


· Keith Fuller - Environment Department, Hampshire County Council


· Hannah Baker - Environment Department, Hampshire County Council


The evidence given ranged over current traffic problems and highways issues in Lyndhurst; the range of bypass solutions and other options for Lyndhurst; the acceptability of a by-pass and environmental impacts on Lyndhurst and surrounding areas, with specific reference to


· Air quality


· Quality of life


· Noise


· Economy


It also covered impacts unique to the New Forest; and highways issues/improvements in Lyndhurst


Members questioned the witnesses based on their written and oral submissions, copies of the written evidence appear in the Minute Book. The session was recorded and is stored securely as part of the public record.

Arising from the questions and answers given, it was agreed to request:


· Further information from New Forest District Council on car parking capacity for cars and coaches; numbers/value of car parking tickets purchased on a month by month basis; occupancy levels during the year.


· Written evidence from the Hampshire Ambulance Service who had been unable to attend on the day.


· Director of Environment to supply copies of his presentation and the coloured maps illustrating the range of potential options for a by-pass for Lyndhurst.


Copies of these, when received, would be forwarded to all Members of the Review Group and also to witnesses. All the evidence, both written and oral, would then be reviewed by the Group at its next meeting on 13 December.

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