A605 junction with Elton village.

 

UPDATE 26^th September 2006

 

The A605 junction was discussed by Cambridgeshire County Council cabinet at its regular meeting.  At this meeting the downgrading of the Elton scheme to a minor scheme was ratified e.g. it is now the official policy of the County Council that not only will a roundabout not go ahead, but that other substantial improvements will not be made.  The only ‘options’ now possibly sanctioned by the County Council are a banned right turn out of the village (to which the PCC have already voted against) and ‘minor’ improvements, such as signage, white lines etc, which (to add insult to injury) come under the classification of jointly funded schemes e.g. we will have to pay a portion for sub-standard improvements.  Below is Elton Parish Councillor Richard Elvin’s report of the meeting:

 

Councillor Reynolds stated that various meetings had been held with Elton PC the latest being last Tuesday (19^th Sept.)

He referred to it as a problem with the right hand turn into Elton coming from Peterborough.

He proposed the Council adopt the report recommended by the officers.

 

Councillor McGuire stated that he had received a letter from Councillor Bill Hensley saying he was disappointed with recommendations in the report but fully understood why they had made their decision and supported it.

 

Cllr McGuire stated that the Council had at the February meeting passed an amendment to appoint consultants to look into alternative solutions to the junction.

He thought it strange that Elton PC were making Cambridgeshire County Council responsible for the failure to provide a roundabout.

The accident rate at the junction was never that high but the expectations of Elton villagers was for a roundabout.

Interim measures appeared to have solved the problem – only 5 personal accidents in 3 years. The junction never had the statistics to justify a major road improvement scheme.

He would like to see a speed limit on the junction but appreciated that they needed to look at County guidelines.

 

He supports all the recommendations apart from that of the right turn out of Elton.

 

Councillor Walters (Chairman) stated that he does not support a major scheme and only wants what can be done quickly and cheaply. Can’t understand what Elton PC are wanting.

Noted discrepancy in date of publication of Hyder report and date given to PC. He instructed his officers to justify the delay.

 

He wanted to make it clear that Elton was not getting a major improvement scheme. It should be made clear to the PC that there would not be any money next year or the foreseeable future for anything other than minor improvements. He pressed for a decision and it was agreed that the recommendations would be adopted. He then stated, “ I win again”.

In conclusion he instructed Graham Hughes to do anything he can quickly and cheaply (preferably within the year).

 

Graham Hughes said he had been asked by the PC to report back to them after this meeting and he would do so straight away

 

To see the meeting for yourselves, please follow the link below and select the Cabinet Meeting 26^th September to see a webcast.  You may be surprised at the apparent contempt shown by some towards the PCC’s attempts to improve the safety of villagers and other users of the junction.

 

http://www.cambridgeshire.ukcouncil.net/site/

 

 

Update 20^th September 2006

 

At the Parish Council meeting on the 19^th September, Cambridge County Council delivered the independent report on the A605 junction with Elton, alternatives to the roundabout.

The County Council remit was to deliver alternative safety schemes for the junction that did not involve any purchase of land from Elton Estates.

The independent report was carried out by HYDER and concluded that one of the alternatives was to ban right turns onto the A605 from Elton.

Another was to make minor improvements to the junction such as interactive signs, anti-skid surfacing, rumble strips and signs.

 

Click here to see the Hyder Consulting report (will open in new window)

 

The County Council reported to the Parish Council that following this report the junction had now been downgraded to low cost minor improvement schemes only, which would be available in conjunction with a right turn ban.  All traffic to Oundle from Elton would now have to travel an alternative route [which would, in most cases, be via Fotheringhay village].  These recommendations will be put before Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet on 26^th September.

 

Click here to see the recommendations to Cabinet and supporting Report (will open in new window)