Agenda Item No. 6(a) South Ayrshire Council

Report by Executive Director – Economy, Neighbourhood and

Environment to Leadership Panel of 19 September 2017

Subject: A70 Ayr Town Centre to Holmston Roundabout - Progress Report

on Alternative Routes for Cyclepath

1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Leadership Panel on progress with

developing alternative routes for a cyclepath near Holmston Road in Ayr, and to seek approval to progress further feasibility and design work.

2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Panel: 2.1.1 Requests the Head of Roads - Ayrshire Roads Alliance to undertake

further feasibility and design work on the preferred options, E and F

2.1.2 Requests that a further report is submitted to a meeting of the Leadership Panel in spring 2018 to seek approval for the preferred route prior to seeking external funding.

3. Background

3.1 Council in October (link) asked Ayrshire Roads Alliance to investigate

alternative routes for the Holmston Road cycle path specifically including the route along the path running parallel to the south bank of the River Ayr. An update report

considered by Leadership Panel on 29 November 2016 (link), noted that the work would be reported back to Leadership Panel in summer 2017.

3.2 The investigation work was undertaken by Systra Ltd based in West George

Street in Glasgow. 3.3 Systra prepared a number of different options for consideration and these are

shown in Appendix 1. These were: 1. Option A - Along the south bank of the River Ayr from Station Road

towards the A77.

2. Option B - Along the north bank of the River Ayr from Station Road towards the existing footbridge within the UWS campus, cross the river and then following the south bank towards the A77.

3. Option C - Along the north bank of the River Ayr from Station Road

towards the A77.

4. Option D - Using the wide pavements in Forehill Road towards Holmston roundabout.

3.4 The routes were prepared as indicative alternative solutions. As part of the

Route Option Appraisal report each of these options was the subject of an engineering site review to establish opportunities and constraints associated with each route. A summary of the Routes Options Appraisal is at Appendix 2.

3.5 Engagement work on this project has been undertaken in accordance with the

protocol agreed at the Leadership Panel meeting on 29 November 2016 (link). The protocol requires engagement with the local ward members, the portfolio holder and the relevant community councils. In addition to engagement with these groups, the Ayrshire Roads Alliance also engaged with the local cycling clubs.

3.6 The Route Option Appraisal used the engineering review findings relating to

each route along with the stakeholder feedback received, to identify a preferred route option.

3.7 The report concluded that there were two viable preferred solutions, both of

which are hybrids of options A, B and C. Within the Route Option Appraisal report these are introduced as options E and F, as detailed below. Very rough, indicative costs are also given. These are based on industry standard construction material rates based on information gathered from site walkovers and estimations of probable works. There remain several unknowns which may significantly amend these figures. Given the scale of costs, if the work was to proceed on either option, funding would be sought in phases from external funders.

1. Option E - Along the north bank of the River Ayr from Station Road towards the existing footbridge within the UWS Craigie campus, across the river and then join Holmston Road, following the A70 towards the A77 - indicative cost is c£0.7m

2. Option F - Along the south bank of the River Ayr from Station Road, following the unnamed burn before Kyle Academy to Overmills Road, and onto the A70 Holmston Road towards the A77 - indicative cost is £1.02m.

3.8 Plans detailing the routes of Options E and F are attached within Appendix 1

and information regarding each is also included in the Routes Options Appraisal summary in Appendix 2.

4. Proposals 4.1 It is proposed that, firstly, the Leadership Panel requests the Head of Roads -

Ayrshire Roads Alliance to undertake further feasibility and design work on the preferred options,E and F. Secondly, it is proposed that Leadership Panel requests that a further report is submitted to a future meeting of the Leadership Panel in spring 2018 to seek approval for the preferred route prior to seeking external funding.

4 Legal Implications and Procurement Implications 4.1 The recommendations in this report are consistent with legal requirements and

reflect appropriate advice. 4.2 Feasibility and design work will be undertaken by contractors and these will be

procured in line with East Ayrshire Council procurement procedures. 5. Financial Implications 5.1 There will be a cost implication associated with pursuing further feasibility and

design work relating to the two preferred options, E and F which is estimated to be in the region of £50,000.

5.2 External funding opportunities will be investigated to cover the cost of the

further feasibility and design work of the two preferred options. In the event that external funding could not be secured these costs would be funded from the local delivery budget allocated by Council to ARA.

5.3 Construction costs of the preferred route will be confirmed as part of the

further feasibility and design work. It is anticipated that construction costs will be sought from external funders in phases, assuming that a future Leadership Panel approves the preferred route in spring 2018.

6 Human Resources Implications 6.1 There are no immediate human resource implications arising from this report. 7. Risk 7.1 Risk Implications of Adopting the Recommendations There is a risk that funding for the further feasibility and design work may need

to be taken from SAC budget allocation for ARA local delivery if it cannot be sourced from external funders.

7.2 Risk Implications of Rejecting the Recommendations There is a risk that this would represent an opportunity missed by Council to

enhance facilities for walking and cycling in this area. 8. Equalities 8.1 The proposals in this report have been assessed through the Equality Impact

Assessment Scoping process. There are no significant potential positive or negative equality impacts of agreeing the recommendations and therefore an Equalities Impact Assessment is not required. A copy of the Equalities Scoping Assessment is attached as Appendix 3.

9. Sustainable Development Implications 9.1 This Report does not propose or seek approval for a plan, policy, programme

or strategy or document otherwise described which could be considered to constitute a plan, programme, policy or strategy.

10. Options Appraisal 10.1 A Route Option Appraisal was carried out and a summary of the findings are

in Appendix 2. 11. Link to Council Plan 11.1 The matters referred to in this report contribute to the Council strategic

objective of “working in partnership to maximise the potential of our Communities” and within that contributes to the strategic outcomes of:

people feel safer

people have healthier lifestyles, including more exercise.

It also contributes to the Council strategic objective of “working in partnership to maximise the potential of our environment” and within that contributes to the strategic outcome of:

we work towards a sustainable, low carbon future.

12. Results of Consultation

(1) There has been engagement in line with the protocol on this project including the local Ward Members; the local cycle clubs; and the relevant Community Councils.

(2) There has been engagement with Councillor Ian Cochrane, Portfolio

Holder for Sustainability and Environment. (3) The recommendation of this report has taken full cognisance of all

engagement/consultation feedback. The summary of the findings of the route options appraisal, Appendix 2, contains information on views expressed during the engagement work.

13. Next Steps for Decision Tracking Purposes 13.1 If the recommendations are approved by Members, the Executive Director -

Economy, Neighbourhood and Environment will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to complete the detailed design work for this project and full implementation of the decision within the following timescales, with the completion status reported to the Leadership Panel in the ‘Council and Leadership Panel Decision Log’ at each of its meetings until such time as the decision is fully implemented:

Report back to Leadership Panel regarding results of further feasibility and design work.

no later than May 2018

Head of Roads, Ayrshire Roads Alliance

Background Papers

Minute of Council Meeting of 6 October 2016 (link)

Engagement Arrangements and Update on Matters Relating to Holmston Road Cycleway, Report to Leadership Panel of 29 November 2016 (link)

Person to Contact Stewart Turner, Head of Roads - Ayrshire Roads Alliance

Johnnie Walker Bond, 15 Strand Street, Kilmarnock KA1 1HU 01563 503164 or at stewart.turner@ayrshireroadsalliance.org

Date: 11 August 2017

Appendix 1 – Plans of Alternative Routes