Flyover update

Our city councillors have been in a meeting (albeit time-restricted) with KCC regarding the progress of the flyover, the essential component of the Sturry Link Road.

Here is their report. Please email us your comments to info@sabora.co.uk

Sturry Viaduct Briefing

Recently, Cllr Harry McKenzie (CCC) and Cllr Keji Moses (CCC) met, alongside
Cllr Alister Brady (KCC) and Cllr Mel Dawkins (KCC), with the KCC Cabinet
Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Neil Baker (KCC) and KCC officers.
This was to receive a briefing on the Sturry viaduct.
Unfortunately, there was only one hour in the meeting and there was not
enough time to ask all the questions we wanted to, however, we managed to
obtain the following information:

Above: The plans as previously submitted

● We were first updated on the most recent position of the project:
● Planning consent was granted about 18 months ago.
● Work is progressing on environmental works to meet the planning conditions.
● Work is also progressing on the Design and Build contract which is looking at
the detailed design for the scheme.
● Archaeological works have also started.
● There has been some slippage to the project as reported earlier this month to
Scrutiny Committee
● The key risk is the funding element and S106 contributions from linked
developments.
● There are three sites directly linked to the project:

• Sturry Site – this is at reserved matters pending consideration of
  developer’s strategy to mitigate nutrient neutrality issues. The
  developer has acknowledged the required S106 requirements.
• Broad Oak – this is in development and £1m of S106 has been
  banked.
• North Hersden – this is in the planning stage.
  ● If there is a funding shortfall from these sites, contributions can be collected
  from other housing developments such as the Colliery Site which itself is also
  linked to the Sturry Link Road.
  ● There is sufficient funding to cover this stage (Design and Build) of the
  project.
  ● The current shortfall is £10m of which £7m can be met from s106 indexation.
  ● The Design and Build work will help identify QA solutions and final costs may
  be lower than current estimates.
  ● We then were able to ask questions and obtain the following
  information:
  ● Cllr Alister Brady asked whether the funding shortfall would impact S106
  contributions for other infrastructure. We were assured that the S106 makes a
  clear distinction between each infrastructure need and so S106 money for
  other infrastructure needs will not be diverted to pay for the viaduct.
  ● Cllr Mel Dawkins asked about the environmental mitigation around moving
  animals and wildlife, whether there is data on the number of species affected,
  and how movement would be handled. We were informed that several
  species have been identified on the site including beavers, otters, and Great
  Crested Newts. With the newts there will either be use of plastic flinching or
  the KCC will enter a district licence with Natural England to contribute to
  improving newt habitats elsewhere. With the beavers there is investigative
  work to identify where there are settlements for them, also, there is a planning
  condition which prevents working within 8 metres of the riverbank without a
  licence. Mitigations are also being put in place for wintering birds and snails
  by creating scraps to hold water and widening ditches. The Ecological Clerk of
  Works will oversee construction and provide reports on whether they are
  meeting planning conditions; reports can be shared as they are received.
  ● Cllr Mel Dawkins asked about the removal of lead pellets from the site. We
  were informed that removal of the lead would be a responsibility of the Sturry
  site developer and would be overseen by the Canterbury City Council
  planning team.
  ● Cllr Harry McKenzie asked whether action is being taken to prevent toxins
  running-off into the River Stour. We were told that reed beds in the ponds will
  help to remove toxins and there will be three settlement basins to come with
  sediments as part of the planning conditions.
  ● Cllr Alister Brady asked what would happen if pollutants did enter the river.
  We were told that there are “fairly standard practices within the construction
  industry to manage pollution during construction and a monitoring regime to
  oversee compliance”. All information is on the planning portal. They also said
  that if pollutants were found in the river, the developer would likely be fined.
  ● Cllr Harry McKenzie asked about mitigations for noise and light pollution from
  the scheme. We were told there will be a noise assessment carried out and
  any negative impacts will be dealt with via compensation. It was also claimed
  that there will be a “significant noise reduction” throughout Sturry.
  ● Cllr Harry McKenzie asked whether alternative proposals had been
  considered and he focused on the extension of the rail platforms as an
  example of an alternative. We were told that there had been talks with
  Network Rail but they showed little interest due to gradient and signalisation
  issues that would be costly to resolve and the work would not resolve traffic
  congestion issues.
  ● Cllr Alister Brady asked what the trigger point would be regarding costs that
  would cause KCC to scrap the project. We were told that would be at the point
  when a contribution from KCC will be necessary.

Share on Facebook