To receive and consider the above report.

Mr Henry Perez addressed the Panel regarding the Wraysbury Bridge new footway and the Panel noted the following main key points:

Ø  Mr Perez was passionate about safety at Wraysbury Railway Station.

Ø  In December 2014, Mr Perez and Mr Cribbin set up a facebook group called Wraysbury Speed Watch.

Ø  The main concern of people was the safety at Wraysbury Railway Bridge.

Ø  The bridge had been unsafe for some 20 years.

Ø  The population and passengers at the station had increased over the years which caused more safety concerns.

Ø  Mr Perez organised a meeting with Southwest Trains, Network Rail and the council where he chaired four meetings.

Ø  Southwest Trains had spend a lot of money on improvements that they were responsible for.

Ø  In 2015, Mr Perez ran a petition and it was signed by 2,800 people.

Ø  In February 2016, the Highways, Transport and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel  recommended spending on safety improvements for the bridge and on 23 February 2016, Cabinet approved the recommendations.

Ø  The new footway had been costed but was not £50k over the expected budget.

Ø  A contractor had been chosen and the footway would be finished by November 2016.

Ø  Mr Perez requested the Panel put a strong recommendation to Cabinet for the new footway to go ahead.

The Vice-Chairman stated he was fearful the cost was unrealistic. Cllr Hunt also raised some concerns over the escalating costs and highlighted that the risk management had highlighted some unknowns. Ben Smith, Head of Highways & Transport stated that during the outline design stage, assumptions were made and the unknowns were things they did not know before; but now, they had all be costed which made the costs increase. The price had been fixed with the contractor which meant the contractor carried the risk. He added he would try and reduce the costs where he could. The Chairman stated he wanted to ensure that residents knew Members took safety very seriously and that he had supported the scheme from the beginning.

The Head of Highways & Transport confirmed that the scheme design altered the access and service road to the station which would prevent any safety issues with the access to the station. Mr Perez stated that the Borough proposed estimated costs but, if the footway was not provided now, the price would go up and that is why the residents requested the footway to be installed during the 2016/17 budget.

Councillor Beer stated residents were saying the steps to the station were not user friendly for the old or disabled but that there were no proposals in the report to do anything about them. Also, the fence adjacent to the drop at the side of the road was not fit for purpose. He added that the Panel were all very supportive of the footway as it was absolutely essential. The Head of Highways & Transport stated he was unable to provide specific answers on the scope of the scheme but he would get the engineers to respond with the exact details of the proposal.

The Head of Highways & Transport confirmed the price was a realistic fixed price and that the risks were carried by the contractor. His team had tested the market and the costs were enough to deliver the scheme; he was comfortable and confident with the fixed price. Cllr Gilmore stated he was supportive of the fixed price as it would be unfortunate to have to go back and request more money. The Head of Highways & Transport had worked well to get the contractor to carry the risks.

Mr Perez stated that Southwest Trains were responsible for the bushes at the site but he was not sure who was responsible for the fence. The Head of Highways & Transport confirmed the Borough would not design or implement a scheme that was not safe , If Network Rail was responsible for the fence, the Borough and the contractor would work with them to get the fence repaired.

v  Ben Smith, Head of Highways & Transport to circulate full details of footway proposal to all Panel Members.

Resolved Unanimously That: The Panel fully endorsed the recommendations to Cabinet:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the scheme set out in Appendix A to install a new footway over the bridge at Wraysbury Station be approved for implementation;

2.    Approves an increase to the capital programme (2016/17) to £135,000 to deliver this project.