A1P (1) MAJOR HIGHWAY SCHEMES - A5225 ... - Wigan Council

A1R HIGHWAY ACCESS - NEW DEVELOPMENT
Objections to Draft Deposit
Ref No a b c d Name Agent Response Ref.
457 O 009 A 1R Highways Agency WMBC 457
572 O 029 A 1R Peter Sargeant FRTPI WIGAN MBC 572/A
Objections to Revised Deposit
Ref No a B c d Name Agent Response Ref.
457 O 016 A 1R Highways Agency WMBC 457
747 O 112 A 1R Wigan Borough Action Group WIGAN MBC 747/A
Main Issues
Whether this policy is appropriate, having regard to:
• the protection of the trunk road network;
• action prior to the submission of a planning application;
• the relative priority to be afforded to wheelchair users.
Inspector’s Considerations and Conclusions
The protection of the trunk road network
10.157 Policy A1R requires new development to facilitate safe and convenient
access for all road vehicles in a way which is compatible with the hierarchy of
accessibility and good urban design. An objector, at FDD stage, argues that policy A1R
does not provide adequate protection for the safe and efficient operation of the trunk road
network. At RDD stage the LPA has inserted in the reasoned justification a paragraph
which informs that direct access on to the trunk road network will be restricted and
developers will need to contact the Highways Agency at an early stage about any
development that may directly or indirectly affect a trunk road. Such early contact will
enable the Highways Agency to inform the prospective developer of the stringent
restrictions on access which apply in such situations and of the implications, for the
particular scheme, of DTLR Circular 04/2001.
10.158 The same objector, at RDD stage, contends that this text still leaves it
unclear when the Highways Agency should be consulted and what roads are actually
trunk roads. The LPA has no formal standing in relation to emerging schemes of
development until a planning application has been submitted. Once that happens the
established procedures for consultation will be applied. It is for that reason that, in its
reasoned justification to policy A1R, the LPA is restricted to advising that developers
should contact the Highways Agency at an early stage and omits reference to a particular
time-table.
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