Connect2 Shoreham Harbour Bridge Replacement

1
Connect2 Shoreham Harbour Bridge Replacement

• Stakeholder Briefing Note No.1
• 10th December 2008

2
Contents

• Introduction
• Progress to Date
• What's Going on Now
• FAQs
• Comments Questions

3
Introduction
Hello and welcome to the first of what I intend
will be a series of regular stakeholder briefing
notes. These briefing notes are intended to be a
relatively simple and informal way for me to keep
you all informed regarding progress on the
Connect2 Shoreham Harbour Bridge Replacement
Project. Initially I intend to issue a brief on
a quarterly basis. The frequency can be adjusted
according to both your feedback and the level of
information available to be reported. Your
comments and questions are very welcome. Tony
Bathmaker WSCC Project Manager
4
Progress to Date

• A lot has been happening on Connect2 behind the
  scenes since the success of the project through
  the Peoples Lottery. Much of the work to date
  has centered on putting resources in place to
  lead on delivery.
• A Project Manager has been appointed who will be
  supported by a Project Board comprising local
  County Councillor Clive Williams and senior WSCC
  managers with the relevant experience and
  authority. A representative of Sustrans has also
  agreed to participate on the Project Board.
• Discussions have been ongoing between Sustrans
  and WSCC to agree on the terms of the Memorandum
  of Understanding that is required in order that
  Sustrans can provide the 770,000 of funding from
  the Big Lottery fund.

5
Whats Going On Now?

• Two initial sub-contracts will be let. The
  first will address preliminary design for the
  pedestrian and cycling improvements to Shoreham
  Beach and the Town Centre. The results of this
  preliminary design process will be available for
  public consultation spring/summer 2009. Details
  of the consultation process will be announced
  nearer the time. The second sub-contract will
  address some technical aspects of the site for
  the new bridge.
• In parallel to the work described above WSCC and
  Sustrans will be agreeing and signing the
  Memorandum of Understanding between the two
  organisations.
• Following the high levels of public support so
  far it is the intention of the project to
  communicate with all stakeholders on a regular
  basis and look for opportunities to further
  involve Shoreham residents and businesses as the
  project continues.

6
FAQs

• Why are road improvements being made to Shoreham
  Town Centre and Shoreham Beach as a part of the
  Connect2 project?
• The installation of a new bridge suitable for
  both pedestrians and cyclists means that this is
  the ideal opportunity to make improvements to
  both the Town Centre and Shoreham Beach. It is
  hoped that by implementing a route that runs from
  the beach across the bridge and up to
  Shoreham-by-Sea station a lot more people will
  want to walk or cycle rather than drive.
• Is the new bridge going to open for boats
  navigating the river?
• No decisions have been made regarding the design
  of the bridge including whether it will open or
  be permanently closed. The project will be
  investigating the potential of building a closed
  bridge but the process of altering the
  established navigation rights is potentially a
  lengthy and expensive one.
• How much will the new bridge cost?
• At the time of writing it is not possible to give
  a definitive answer to this question. There are
  a number of factors that need to be determined
  including the alignment of the new bridge, its
  design and whether it will open or be closed.
• Will the public be able to get involved with the
  project?
• Public consultation is being planned into the
  project programme for both the designs of the
  town centre/Shoreham Beach cycle pedestrian
  improvements and the bridge itself. These
  activities have not yet been planned in detail
  but will be advertised in advance.

7
FAQs

• Does the Lottery Funding Run out soon?
• No. The funding through Sustrans and the Big
  Lottery Fund is available until March 2013.
• Will the existing footbridge remain open whilst
  the new bridge is built.
• The existing bridge will be kept open as long as
  it is safe and affordable to do so. A lot will
  depend on the alignment and design of the new
  bridge.

8
Comments Questions
Please feel free to contact me with any comments
or questions. I will add questions and responses
to the FAQs for the next brief. Please advise me
if you are aware of any stakeholder who has been
missed from the distribution list. Tony
Bathmaker Countryside Access Capital Projects
Manager Major Projects Group, Room 305, 3rd
Floor, Grange Block, County Hall, Chichester,
West Sussex, PO19 1RH. Internal
82227 External 44 (0) 1243-382227 Mobile 075
15 500756 E-mail tony.bathmaker_at_westsussex.gov.u
k