AGENDA ITEM 16
BOROUGH OF POOLE
COUNCIL
1ST NOVEMBER 2011
TWIN SAILS BRIDGE AND POOLE LIFTING BRIDGE, CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LIFTING SCHEDULE: REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRANSPORT, COUNCILLOR MRS XENA DION
1. MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION & POLICY CONTEXT
1.1 To establish the lifting schedules for Poole Bridge and Twin Sails Bridge as required under the Transport and Works Act Order
2. RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1 It is recommended that Council consider and approve the proposed lifting schedules for the two bridge system as set out in Appendix 1 taking account of any view expressed by the Transport Advisory Group at its meeting on the 27th October 2011.
2.2 It is further recommended that Council approve the following delegations:
(i) Minor permanent amendments to the schedule should be delegated to Cabinet for approval.
(ii) Urgent operational or temporary changes should be delegated to the Head of Transportation Services.
All such changes will still be subject to the consideration and recommendation of the Bridge Operating Board (BOB).
3. INFORMATION
3.1 While the two bridges system provided by the Twin Sails and Poole Lifting bridges undoubtedly provides significant benefit for highway users, this is potentially at the expense of additional time which will be required for mariners to pass though the channel from Holes Bay to the main area of the harbour. The balancing of these often conflicting needs was the subject of considerable debate at the Public inquiry into the Transport and Works Act Order, following which the Council agreed the following principles:
· One bridge would remain open to highway traffic at all normal times - excluding periods of bridge maintenance / break down, maritime emergencies or the passage of vessels longer than 40m.
· Additional lifts will be provided to give mariners greater choice of journey time and reduce the number of boats using bridge lifts at peak times.
· Lifting schedules would be proposed by the Bridges Operating Board, established as a requirement of the Transport and Works Act Order, for approval by the Council.
3.2 The Bridges Operating Board (BOB) has since developed schedules based on the above principles, shown as Appendix 1. The Board has five members with a mix of maritime and highway interests, and as these proposals were supported unanimously it can be considered that these reasonably reflect the interests of all users.
3.3 Four schedules are proposed as shown in Appendix 1.
· Schedule 1 applies while the bridge is being constructed
This covers the remaining period of the bridge construction programme when the navigation channel passes though the opening spans while the bridge is still under not complete or part of the highway network.
Schedules 2 to 4 will apply when the bridge is complete and fully operational as follows:
· Schedule 2 - covers the winter period (1st October to 31st March).
· Schedule 3 – covers the summer period (1st April to 30th September)
· Schedule 4 – covers summer weekend and bank holidays only.
3.4 The construction of the bridge is currently on programme for completion in January 2012. A key milestone of the project was reached in October when the navigation channel was moved to its final position through the centre opening span. The first of the proposed schedules will be required for the remainder of the construction period with the final three schedules coming into effect following completion of the bridge.
3.5 An information strategy is currently being developed to ensure that Members and the general public, local residents and mariners (in particular those with a berth in Holes Bay) are fully aware of the lifting arrangements for the two bridge system. It is proposed that the strategy will include:
· Briefing for Members
· Leaflet for mariners
· Information of the Council’s website
· Use of local printed media
3.6 Decisions on the operation of the two bridge system are currently a matter for Council based on recommendations from BOB. It is proposed that major permanent changes to the schedule in future should still be approved by Council. Minor permanent amendments to the schedule should be delegated to Cabinet for approval. Urgent operational or temporary changes should be delegated to the Head of Transportation Services. All such changes will still be subject to the consideration and recommendation of BOB.
4. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
4.1 There are no additional funding implications associated with this proposal as the costs for operating the two bridge system are included in the Council’s current medium term revenue budget.
5. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 The Transport and Works Act Order titled “The Borough of Poole (Poole Harbour Opening Bridges Order 2006)” covers the operation of the two bridge system
6. RISK MANAGEMENT
6.1 N/A
7. EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1 There are no equalities issues associated with the contents of this report
8. CONCLUSIONS
8.1 The making of the decision based on the contents of this report will allow the new two bridge system to be brought into use when the Twin Sails bridge is completed in January 2012.
Councillor Xena Dion
Portfolio Holder with Responsibility for Transport
3