Strategic Infrastructure Programme Board
24th April 2015, BioPark, Welwyn Garden City
Minutes
Board Member Attendees:
Andrew Percival
VINCI, LEP Board Member and SIB Chair
Jane Custance
HIPP
Giles Ellerton
BT
Jon Tiley
Hertfordshire County Council
John Rockminster
Lambert Smith Hampton
Also in attendance:
Ashley Stower
Rupert Thacker
Stephen Bennett
Rupert Dyer
Steve Peggs
Joan Hancox
Lisa Bishop
Network Rail
Hertfordshire County Council
Arup
Arup
Network Rail
Herts LEP
Herts LEP
Item 1: Apologies:
Emma Grigson
Matthew Wood
Daniel Pagella
Rupert Wood
Peter Gurr
David Bell
Steve Collins
Affinity Water
Lambert Smith Hampton
Goodman
St Modwen
Taylor Wimpey
East of England Freight Quality Partnership
Homes and Community Agency
Andrew welcomed and thanked the representatives from Network Rail, Arup and
Hertfordshire County Council for attending the meeting.
Item 2: Presentations from Network Rail, Arup and Hertfordshire County
Council
All Presentations attached.
The Board heard presentations from Ashley Stower which gave an outline for the
process for Control Period 6. A control period’s timescale is 5 years. The LNW
(London Chilterns/West Midlands/North West to border) team collaborate with
Councils and LEPs to decide upon future rail priorities looking strategically up to
2043. Each area will submit priorities with evidence to support to Network Rail who
then assesses viability and DfT make final funding decisions on which
priorities/projects go ahead.
Ashley advised that the LNW team are based in Birmingham and he and his
colleague Jagdeep Padham will be the contacts for Hertfordshire LEP and Council.
Rupert Thacker from Hertfordshire County Council described his role within HCC
and introduced Stephen Bennett and Rupert Dyer from Arup who presented their
findings to the Board on Rail Strategy for Hertfordshire.
The presentation explained the context and process for Hertfordshire County Council
within the rail industry timeline. It also included an approach, analysis and
conditional provisional strategic objective, possible interventions and the strategy
and priorities for HCC. The Strategic Infrastructure Board/LEP Board Herts can
advise HCC on the priorities they feel will best benefit Hertfordshire.
Also highlighted was the importance of Rail to the Hertfordshire economy stating that
60,000 people commute out the county by rail each day and 12,000 commute into
the county. The presentation advised that rail will need to support the increased
travel demand in the future. Also addressed was rail strategy development
identifying and assessment of different interventions for each route in the
Hertfordshire area. Short and long term strategic priority suggestions and next steps
were presented.
Discussion that Hertfordshire needs a voice to push better services for example
Hertford loop line, a change in timetable could take 15 minutes off the journey time to
London. Also, it is difficult to go North from Hertfordshire. Watford and Stevenage
stations and services could be improved. Crossrail out to Hertfordshire would be
valuable. Need to have a view on what HS2 could do for Herts. Currently being
developed so now is time to consider what would work for Hertfordshire. Clear
thinking of what Hertfordshire currently have, what requirement priorities and what is
to be safeguarded. Many considerations, e.g. would a light rail link from Watford to
St Albans help capacity? Could St Albans be a future rail hub? Thinking beyond
Control period 6 and even strategically to 2043.
This presentation given by Arup will be submitted on 15th May to HCC and then will
go out for public consultation.
Steve Pegg from Network Rail then presented on regeneration of stations. Steve
discussed his work with joint ventures as Solum Regeneration and the effectiveness
this is having on transforming stations.
Jane and Andrew asked about the Watford and Stevenage station possibilities.
Watford is an ongoing discussion and not currently suitable as a Solum regeneration
project. Stevenage station is possibility for regeneration.
Work currently being done by HCC to create a master plan for Stevenage station.
Rupert Thacker, Andrew Percival and Joan Hancox to meet with Steve Peggs to
discuss a long term regeneration plan for Stevenage station.
Joan Hancox thanked Network Rail, HCC and Arup for their presentations and
contributions to the meeting.
Item 3 - Minutes of last meeting and matters arising.
Nothing raised.
Item 4 – Any other business
Nothing raised.
Date of next meeting: 10th July 2015. Venue to be advised. If you are able to host
this or a future meeting, please email Lisa. [email protected]