To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.
Minutes:
The Mayor invited the following public questioners to pose their questions to Council.
Question from Alexandra Kemp
Would the Borough listen to local residents, and recognise and respect, in the Waterfront Plan, the uniqueness of the strategic cultural, heritage, wildlife, community, tourist and waterfront asset that is Hardings Way and Hardings Pits, and not place general traffic on Hardings Way, which would turn Wisbech Road into a bottleneck, causing queues and pollution when vehicles turn into Hardings Way; Natural England says Hardings Way could bring increased income from tourism, especially when the new Coastal Path brings in more cyclists and walkers; and keeping bus lanes traffic-free, and opening park-and-rides are the proven route to reducing congestion.
Councillor Beales responded “Firstly let me say that this Council seeks the views of both local residents and the wider population of the Borough whenever a major project is planned or being planned. Views are collated and carefully considered during the formulation of policy, within recommendations to Council and during the scrutiny process – recognition and respect of such views is implicit in the conduct of Council business.
In terms of the specific question you ask you will note that a clear majority of respondents to public consultation (55%) preferred Option 3 of the Riverfront Delivery Plan – the one in which Hardings Way would be open to all traffic.
However, and importantly, the recommendation to Cabinet to endorse option 3 refers extensively to the need to “test the scheme further” and “to progress investigation and testing of these options”. Subject to the outcome of Cabinet deliberations, this Council will be asked to endorse option 3 and approve funding for proper investigation of such matters as ecology, archelogy, ground conditions, flood issues and many others as well as traffic surveys and Highways advice on the future of Hardings Way. Until such facts are available and understood this Council cannot and will not commit to any specific proposal.
I will finish by reassuring you that the value of Hardings Pits as a green open space is recognized by this Council and particularly by me personally and the potential tourism boost from the new stretch of the Coastal Path has been widely discussed during formulation of the Riverfront Delivery Plan.”
By way of supplementary, Miss Kemp asked if the Council would have regard to the 70% of respondents who were against the proposal. She wished to present a petition, but was advised that the 57 signatures did not meet the petition criteria for full Council.
In response, Councillor Beales re-iterated that the facts were not yet known, and the most significant aspect was to get the funding in place to look at the issues properly.
Question from Francis Bone
The residents of Highgate, who have had parking permits imposed on them at a significant cost, would like to know what positive impact they can expect to see on their environment?
Councillor Long responded “The imposition of resident only parking passes is a function of the Norfolk County Council, whilst I understand you are a candidate for the Borough Council by Election, I do find it hard to understand why your colleagues within the Labour Group have not outlined this to you, I would suggest that you engage with the County Councillor for the area Cllr. David Collis as I am certain he should have had input into the legal order creating resident only parking.
The Question of what can be expected as a result of this change in my opinion is two-fold, firstly those that have chosen to park all day in a residential area and then take the train to London or spend a day in town will diminish and those that chose to carry on doing this will be fined.
Secondly those that live there will be able to park near to their own homes and not be affected by those that shouldn’t now be parking there.”
By way of supplementary Mr Bone asked how it could not be classed as profit making when £400 had been paid by visitors to properties. Councillor Long referred Mr Bone to the County Council.