Mid Wales (Powys) Conjoined Wind Farms Public Inquiry. Summary Proof of Evidence Kevin Martin BEng, CEng, MICE

Transcription

1 Transportation RES UK &Ireland Limited September 2013 Mid Wales (Powys) Conjoined Wind Farms Public Inquiry Application by RES UK & Ireland Limited dated 27 March 2009 for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a 100MW wind turbine generating station in Powys, Mid Wales ( Llanbrynmair ) Summary Proof of Evidence Kevin Martin BEng, CEng, MICE Reference: RES/Local Transport/Summary Proof of Evidence/Kevin Martin/SSA-B

2 Mid Wales (Powys) Conjoined Wind Farms Public Inquiry Application by RES UK & Ireland Limited dated 27 March 2009 for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a 100MW wind turbine generating station in Powys, Mid Wales ( Llanbrynmair ) Summary Proof of Evidence Kevin Martin BEng, CEng, MICE Rev No Comments Checked by Approved by Date 1 1 st Draft KWM 25/9/ Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4GZ Telephone: Website: Job No Reference Date Created September 2013 This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited for the sole use of our client (the Client ) and in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM Limited and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM Limited, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM Limited. c:\users\martinkw\documents\development\llanbrynmair\llanbrynmair summary proof doc

3 Table of Contents 1 Introduction The Proposed Development Policy Context in Relation to Transport Matters Transport Impacts The Current Position of Welsh Government The Current Position of PCC The Current Position of NRW The Current Position of Third Parties in Relation to Transport Matters Conclusions...19

4 1 Introduction

5 AECOM 2 1 Introduction 1.1 My name is Kevin William Martin. I am a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Sheffield. I am a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. I am a Director of AECOM, Consulting Engineers. 1.2 I have been professionally engaged in traffic engineering, transport planning and highway design for 40 years. 1.3 My evidence within this Inquiry Session (Session 2) of the Inquiry relates to Local Transport. 1.4 In preparation for this Inquiry AECOM has taken the opportunity to review the detail of the highway works previously proposed, revise the highway works design to take account of PCC and NRW comments and also review the associated access strategy previously proposed. 1.5 I consider that the highway and transport concerns have now been progressed to a satisfactory pre-planning position and that associated planning conditions could be applied.

6 2 The Proposed Development

7 AECOM 4 2 The Proposed Development 2.1 The application site is located within the Carno North Strategic Search Area (SSA) as defined by Technical Advice Note 8: Planning for Renewable Energy (July 2005). 2.2 Access to the site is proposed from three separate entrances along the Llanerfyl to Talerddig county road. 2.3 All AILs will continue to enter from Llanerfyl. All construction traffic will enter and leave the county road from the A470 trunk road at Talerddig. 2.4 On-site concrete batching and the use of up to 7 borrow pits is proposed. 2.5 The Llanerfyl to Talerddig road is 17.5km in length and has had only one minor road traffic accident within the last five years.

8 3 Policy Context in Relation to Transport Matters

9 AECOM 6 3 Policy Context in Relation to Transport Matters 3.1 The Powys County Council Unitary Development Plan (UDP) (2010) includes a specific policy with regard to wind power generation. 3.2 Policy E3 states, in relation to transport matters, that applications for wind farms will be approved where: They do not unacceptably adversely affect the enjoyment and safe use of highway and the public rights of way network, especially bridleways, including during the construction phase; They would be capable of being served by an acceptable means of highway access and any new or improved roads and accesses required would not have unacceptable environmental impacts. Any ancillary structures or buildings are so sited and designed (including the use of locally appropriate construction material) so as to adequately blend into their setting. 3.3 The mitigation works have been designed to comply with Policy E3

10 4 Transport Impacts

11 AECOM 8 4 Transport Impacts 4.1 This revised access strategy and design can be directly compared with the highway improvements previously proposed: The number of passing bays/ail over-runs has been reduced from 99 to 67 The number within the more constrained Section 1 has been reduced from 73 to 40 Surface treatment has moved from hard asphalt to a more sympathetic grass reinforcement The number of passing places for everyday traffic has increased from 2 to An access strategy review has been undertaken to establish the most appropriate routes to the site. It was concluded that the split traffic option (with Ails entering from Llanerfyl and construction traffic entering from Talerddig), with three access points, was the most suitable. 4.3 The overall access strategy was described as sensible by PCC. 4.4 Stage 1 Road Safety Audits have been undertaken for the following : the A470/Talerddig junction proposals the A458/Llanerfyl junction proposals the route and access strategy between Talerddig and Llanerfyl 4.5 The Safety Audit concluded that the access route strategy is suitable in road safety terms. 4.6 Both highway authorities have indicated that the audits are satisfactory. 4.7 Specific mitigation measures with respect to PROW, including Glyndwr s Way (GDW), will be the subject of a planning condition as well as a further planning condition requiring a GDW Trail Management Plan. 4.8 In terms of IEA Guidelines the impact on the trunk roads immediately adjacent to the County, there is no discernible impact. 4.9 Application of the IEA guidelines to the County road indicates that: On the most environmentally sensitive, and most populated, Section 1 there is no discernible impact. The impact on the less environmentally sensitive, and less populated, Sections 2 and 3 is potentially significant.

12 AECOM The level of significance for Sections 2 and 3 is classed as slight to moderate The total distance from the A458 Llanerfyl to the furthest Site Access 4 is 12.9km, including offroad tracks. It would take approximately 51 minutes for the AIL convoys to arrive at Site Access 4. Four passing places are available along the route for background traffic to pass the AIL convoy The highway works drawings represent a culmination of stakeholder dialogue and multidisciplinary design team input The construction of the highway works will require a number of temporary road closures These temporary closures are either in the daytime inter-peak ( ) or overnight between 2000 and Typical traffic flow during the daytime inter-peak is 10 vehicles per hour and 1 vehicle per hour overnight Preliminary work indicates that 15 days would be affected by temporary closures during the 9 month highway works construction period. Early contractor involvement has indicated ample opportunity to reduce the number and impact of this number of closures There are locations where long term community benefit is provided by the highway enabling works. These include: A470/ Talerddig trunk road Entirety of the route for improved passing potential. Gosen Bridge Diosg

13 5 The Current Position of Welsh Government

14 AECOM 11 5 The Current Position of Welsh Government 5.1 The position of Welsh Government with respect to local transport matters has been provided in their letter dated 15 March Welsh Government has no objection in principle to the use of the A470 junction at Talerddig for construction traffic and the use a junction of the A458 at Llanerfyl for AIL deliveries associated with the Llanbrynmair Wind Farm. 5.3 The letter noted that the A470/Talerddig trunk road junction will be significantly improved. 5.4 WG issued a Statement of Case for Llanbrynmair on 9 September 2013 confirming the above and which also contains associated planning condition wording. This has been the subject of discussion and I consider the wording to be appropriate for application by the local planning authority.

15 6 The Current Position of PCC

16 AECOM 13 6 The Current Position of PCC 6.1 AECOM has provided PCC with comprehensive design detail since their appointment in January PCC s Statement of Case for Session 2 (paragraph 5.1.2) indicates that the Council accept that following extensive further work the Applicant has demonstrated that the access by AILs is technically feasible. 6.3 PCC consider that it has not been demonstrated why access through Carnedd Wen could not have been provided. Access through Carnedd Wen is not part of my client s proposals and has not been formally assessed. 6.4 I consider the proposed AIL access to be acceptable. 6.5 I understand that PCC agree that access by construction traffic from Talerddig is also technically feasible. 6.6 The need for three access points was addressed in an AECOM dated 17 September Discussion is ongoing at the time of proof of evidence submission. 6.7 Discussion on planning conditions is ongoing.

17 7 The Current Position of NRW

18 AECOM 15 7 The Current Position of NRW 7.1 NRW s Amended Statement of Case for Session 2 indicates that (paragraph 3.1.2) the off-site highway works which will be sufficient to bring about a change in character of the road. 7.2 This would appear to be a similar NRW position to that indicated during 2012 in relation to the character of the road. 7.3 The approach adopted by AECOM to outstanding issues since January 2012 has demonstrated a multi-disciplinary team approach to the revised designs of the off-site highway works. 7.4 In total, 53 trees are removed with 147 replaced and 1532 metres of hedgerow removed and replaced by 2373 metres. 7.5 The use of reinforced grass techniques for the highway widening, widespread hedgerow, tree and local embankment material replacement allow the works to be satisfactorily assimilated into the landscape (as indicated in Mr van Grieken s evidence). 7.6 These matters are as requested NRW s letter of 12 October 2012 i.e. that new laybys and road widening should be undertaken sympathetically to minimise impacts. 7.7 NRW also raise the issue of a shared access with Carnedd Wen.

19 8 The Current Position of Third Parties in Relation to Transport Matters

20 AECOM 17 8 The Current Position of Third Parties in Relation to Transport Matters 8.1 Transport-related comments of the Alliance have been addressed in my main proof of Evidence. 8.2 Many of the matters raised have been addressed in relation to PCC and NRW comments.

21 9 Conclusions

22 AECOM 19 9 Conclusions 9.1 The wider Llanbrynmair team has responded in a holistic fashion to the previous comments from PCC and NRW in relation to proposed off-site highway works. 9.2 PCC has indicated that the access strategy is sensible. Also, a road safety audit has concluded that the access strategy is suitable in road safety terms. 9.3 The proposals comply with UDP Policy E The access strategy and the proposals for the road minimise the likelihood of traffic impact on key receptors along the road. 9.5 The public rights of way, including Glyndwr s Way, along the route have been addressed. Means of maintaining these public rights of way during the period of temporary construction have been agreed. 9.6 For areas where temporary closures are required, they are minimised and restricted to inter-peak and overnight times. 9.7 The impact from the construction of the Llanbrynmair wind farm is temporary in nature. 9.8 I consider that the proposed improvements provide no long term detriment to the traffic character of the road. 9.9 The project also delivers community benefit in locations such as the trunk road junction at Talerddig and Gosen Bridge I consider that the highway works proposed deliver a scheme which will enable access whilst providing a solution which is sympathetic of the needs of local residents, road users, the environment and the landscape My evidence to this Session of the Inquiry is that there is no transport related county road reason that should prevent the proposed Llanbrynmair wind farm development from being approved at appeal and for planning permission to be granted.