Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Aziz, N. Choudary and Mason.

Councillor Golby declared a Personal interest in item 4(a) N/2012/0314 and N/2012/0315 as a County Councillor.

Councillor Hallam declared a Personal interest in item 4(a) N/2012/0314 and N/2012/0315 as a County Councillor.

Councillor Lynch declared a Personal interest in item 4(a) N/2012/0314 and N/2012/0315 as a County Councillor.

Councillor Meredith declared a Personal interest in item 4(a) N/2012/0314 and N/2012/0315 as a County Councillor.

Councillor Oldham declared a Personal interest in item 4(a) N/2012/0314 and N/2012/0315 as a Co-Chair of the Pensioners Forum.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Castle

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of applications N/2012/0314 and N/2012/0315, elaborated thereon and referred to the Addendum that set out further responses from the Town Centre Manager, The Victorian Society, Northamptonshire Police, the Town Centre Conservation Area Advisory Committee, Natural England, NCC Archaeology, Anglian Water, the Environment Agency, and Stagecoach as well as Officer responses where appropriate, an additional condition in respect of an drainage strategy, an update on the Environmental Impact Assessment and a correction to Condition 2 in respect of N/2012/0314. In the light of the comments of the Environment Agency, the Head of Planning proposed that should the Committee be minded to approve N/2012/0314, that recommendation 1.1 set out in the report be amended by both making approval subject to the removal by the Environment Agency of their objection as set out in the Addendum, and also by giving the Head of Planning delegated authority to impose any appropriate conditions to meet the requirements of the Environment Agency.

Mr Bricher stated that he believed that the proposal did not make best use of the area and that not all of the site was to be used: the scheme may work well most of the time but in a cramped town centre environment it would be vulnerable to traffic congestion. He noted that the bus operators had not anticipated much difference in service levels in the short term but queried what the situation might be in five years. The Town was still growing  and the bus operators would want to take advantage of this. Mr Bricher noted the intention to use the Drapery and asked where any new routes would go. He stated that the site was more awkward to use as the Council appeared reluctant to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the whole site: apparently this was not seen as “value for money”. However, he believed that by making this investment the Interchange would be able to cope with virtually all circumstances. The architect would be able to make an even better job of the design. He urged that the current plans be withdrawn and use be made of the other properties: Greyfriars had been a headache for 40 years but he did not want this scheme to become a folly.

Mr Barlow, on behalf of Northampton Bus Users Group, stated that they welcomed the concept but had some concerns. Since 1976 all bus services had left from a single point of departure, Greyfriars. Now buses would depart from three different locations. He queried where the bus lay-over facilities would be as bus drivers currently had their mandatory 45 minute break in Northampton. Mr Barlow commented that an estimated 125 buses per hour would be passing through the pelican crossings and stated that the phasing of the lights would be critical to avoid congestion. Connected to this were public safety concerns, in particular for school children crossing Silver Street. He observed that the proposed roundabout at the King Street, Silver Street, Bradshaw  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a