Agenda item

Anyone who would like to ask a question or make a statement at the meeting should email notice of their wish to do so, including the full text of what they intend to say, to Ruth.Gladstone@northyorks.gov.uk as soon as possible, and by midday on Monday 13 March 2023 at the latest.  Speakers are each asked not to exceed 3 minutes’ speaking time and to read out only the statement/question of which they have submitted notice, without adding to or altering it.  No person may submit more than one question or statement.  No more than one question may be asked, or statement made, on behalf of one organisation.  The overall time available for public questions or statements is 30 minutes.

 

If you are asking a question or making a statement at this meeting but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.

 

Note: Questions or statements about Harrogate Station Gateway should be directed to the Committee’s special meeting to be held on 5 May 2023 at 10am at Harrogate Civic Centre.

Two notices had been received of statements from members of the public to be put before the committee at the meeting. 

 

Proposed Development at Rotary Woods by Danone/Harrogate Spring Water:

Sarah Gibbs made the following statement to the Committee: “It’s infuriating that we need to quote ‘legal’ reasons, material planning issues and policy, for our desire to save our green spaces to be seriously considered by those who represent us. Having finally recognised the state of emergency of the planet’s climate, it has become more obvious that nature does not care for our laws, policies, or planning issues. Written and spoken words to reduce carbon will not matter without action, because nature will act. The climate will continue to worsen, unless we act, and we must act now. For what we do now is all that matters. It determines our future, just as the actions of others’ years before determined the present day. Actions like planting a 4-acre woodland 18 years ago to help minimise the negative ecological impacts of what was then known as climate change. That action gave us an ACV area, a space for our emotional well-being, a nature corridor, biodiversity, a place for priority species, carbon sequestration. What is the sense of destroying past efforts that are at an optimal stage of carbon sequestration now? What those before us chose to do then, helped us to have a healthier present. What we choose to do now, will determine our future, our children’s future, and the future of the planet. ‘Compensation’ is one of those words that nature doesn’t care about. You cannot compensate such a loss, especially when the reason would result in more C02 emissions, methane, ethylene, plastic pollution, water extraction, deforestation, fragmentation and biodiversity loss.

 

The laws of nature should take precedent.

 

In this case, this development is not in line with material planning issues: AVC Public Access; HBC policies: Carbon Reduction Strategy (11.04.2022): pg.3 Summary Paragraph 3, pg.4 Strategic Theme 3, Strategic Theme 5, pg.5 Part 1. Introduction: Summary, 1.1, Snapshots from 2038: ‘The district…restored.’, pg.6 and pg.7 1.2 The Need for Action; Biodiversity Action Plan (12.2012): pg.9, 5.4, pg.11 ‘Environmental education:…Young people also need to become stakeholders in the BAP process – understanding and taking responsibility for wildlife’; Harrogate BAP Action Programme: pg.104 FW-T1, pg.113 B-T4, B-A1, B-A7; Harrogate Action Plan Hedgerows; Habitat Action Plan Woodland: pg.33 Objectives, Introduction paragraph 3: ‘Fragmentation of woodland is…a particular threat and protecting, expanding and linking existing woodland blocks is especially important for the conservation of biodiversity’, pg.34 ‘Wet woodland’, ‘Broadleaved and mixed woodlands’, pg.35 Local Priority Species: Dutch Rush (growing in Rotary Wood: documented); Species Action Plan Bats; Tree and Woodland Policy: pg.2, pg.9 Removal of Trees, Tree Planting, pg.10 Carbon Sequestration, pg.12 Trees and Development, pg.14 Planning applications involving trees: in line with BS5837:2012: Tree survey (sec 4.4), Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA sec 5.4), Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS sec 6.1), pg.15 Habitat and community use; NYCC draft Climate Change Strategy: ‘Supporting Nature: Protect, enhance and link important nature sites and corridors…’, NYCC Declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency, 05.07.22; Government policies: Environment Act 2021, Part 6, 98 Biodiversity gain as condition of planning permission Schedule 14.

 

So, now’s the time to act upon your words and honour what you say.”

 

Ruth Gladstone (Principal Democratic Services Officer) read out the following response on behalf of Council: “Thank you chair you've allowed me to make a very brief comment back to Sarah Gibbs and that is that I believe members will wish to thank you very much indeed for making this statement and encourage you and indeed all members of the public who share your views to continue to pass your views to the council officers who are creating information on this planning application so that all comments can be taken into consideration when the planning application is determined”.

 

County Councillor Mike Schofield (local Member) made a statement in support of the application.

 

Following the statement the Chair and Vice Chair returned to the room.

 

Request for 20mph speed limit and zone - Oatlands Road Safety and Active Travel Campaign

 

 

Hazel Peacock and  Dr. Vicki Evans from the Oatlands road safety and active travel campaign made the following statement to the committee:

 

“Thank you chair and the committee for giving us the opportunity to read our statement. I am Hazel Peacock and this is Dr. Vicki Evans. We are from the Oatlands road safety and active travel campaign.

 

Road safety has been of particular concern from school leaders, parents and carers of school children and local residents in Oatlands and the wider Harrogate area for many years.

 

We want safer streets for the community and we are petitioning North Yorkshire County Council for a maximum speed of 20mph on roads in south and west Harrogate to improve road safety (shown in red on your maps).

 

This change is urgently needed to reduce road collisions, improve safety, reduce air pollution and create a better environment for walking, wheeling, and cycling to the schools, shops, workplaces and local amenities in our community.

 

Recent collisions have resulted in the serious injury of children walking to and from school while on pavements; one at Beechwood Grove in January resulting in the

hospitalisation of a child and the second on the 2nd February on Yew Tree Lane causing the severe and potentially life changing injury, of two teenagers.

 

These awful events combined with evidence showing that approximately 16 children are killed or seriously injured in road crashes every week on their way to or from school (ref: Public Health England 2018) demonstrate the case for immediate action.

 

Maximum speed limits of 20mph have been delivered in other rural and urban areas of Yorkshire and the UK including Calderdale, Cornwall, Oxford, Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders and London with positive effects.

 

In example, the Edinburgh change to 20mph limits in 2021 reduced road traffic casualties by 40 per cent (ref: Jepson R et al. Public Heath Res 2022) and recent research from Transport for London (TfL) shows people hit by a vehicle at 20mph are around five times less likely to be killed than at 30mph (TfL February 2023). Both illustrate why urgent action is needed now to protect lives with a maximum speed of 20mph.

 

Our proposal complements and is dovetailed with the initiative by Pannal Ash Safe Streets, also calling for 20mph. Together we have established a group who give their support, including national education leader Richard Sheriff OBE and Head teachers from all of the 9 schools in the area and by members here today Councillors Marsh, Mann and Schofield.

 

With 9,000 plus children and young people travelling to the schools, colleges and early years settings in south and west Harrogate, and the Pannal Ash area each school day, implementing a maximum speed of 20mph has the potential to save the lives of children, young people and the wider community and make an significant and positive impact.

 

We really hope you can consider our proposal for the benefit and safety of the children and young people of Harrogate.

 

Thank you for listening”.

 

The Chair invited Melissa Burnham, the area Highways Manager for North Yorkshire County Council, to address the point raised in the statement: It was confirmed that NYCC had attended the first meeting with the Oatlands road safety and active travel campaign group over a month ago and will be having another meeting next week with the North Yorkshire County Council Highway officers. The council is aware of the proposals and are engaging with the group proactively on these issues.

 

Councillor Chris Aldred asked MB what the process was to request 20 mph zones. MB responded that a petition needed to be formally submitted on such an issue but in this case the petition had not yet been formally submitted. Consideration would include speed set, volume of traffic and the strategic overview for the area. The strategic impact was important because changes to one road could have significant impacts on others. Once a petition had been formally received the Council would review the request on the basis of its policy framework and consider the wider strategic effect on that particular area. Councillor Aldred asked about the petition for a 20mph zone in the Pannal Ash area that the Committee had voted on at a previous meeting. MB responded that the Council were assessing both the Oatlands and Pannal Ash areas as a combined project.

 

Councillor Arnold Warneken asked whether it had been considered that imposing 20mph areas without including all side roads would potentially create rat runs. MB responded that this would be considered as part of the strategic assessment of any area. Councillors Mike Scholfield and John Mann expressed their support of the proposals with Councillor Mann stating that he had also asked for Yew tree Lane, Green Lane, Hoxton Road and Beachwood Grove to be considered for 20mph zones.