Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Thomas introduced the Cheshire/Flintshire Access Road Study report which highlighted that a number of road and rail schemes had been identified in the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA) “Unlocking our true potential” prospectus.  They were considered essential to unlock future development and drive growth in the MDA area. 

            Following dialogue between Welsh Government (WG), Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), and Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC), it had shown that there was considerable interest in broadening the initial analysis of a potential future scheme to consider the options, implications and longer-term joint benefits of a revised alignment. 

It was believed that an alternative route could provide greater opportunities to improve connectivity on both sides of the border and enable improved access to new and emerging development sites.  These included Hawarden, Broughton and the existing retail park, Warren Hall as well as potential sites that may be considered beyond the current planning horizons.  The potential alignment could also help reduce congestion on the Chester inner ring-road and at the A55/A483 Posthouse junction.

As local Members representing both wards in Broughton, Councillors Butler and Mullin welcomed the report which they felt had been needed for a number of years.

In response to a question from Councillor Shotton, the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Countryside) explained that Flintshire County Council was an equal contributor to the study and any final route options would be reported back to Cabinet.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the joint commission with Welsh Government, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington County Borough Council to engage a specialist partner to make recommendations on the preferred routing option for a potential new cross-boundary highway scheme be approved; and

(b)       That a further report detailing the outcome of the study once the work is completed be submitted to Cabinet.

Councillor Attridge chaired the meeting from this point on