Decision on plan to remove A45 layby deferred
A DECISION on plans to permanently remove a layby on part of the A45 in Coventry has been deferred.
Coventry City Council’s planning committee was expected to vote on the proposal on Thursday, April 8.
However the item was pulled from the agenda and will now be heard on April 22.
Chair of the committee Cllr Lindsley Harvard said: “That application has been deferred because not all information was available. That has been deferred until the next meeting.”
Coventry City Council did not respond to media enquiries to provide more detail.
The plans related to proposals for two new junctions off the A45, roundabouts, a flyover and access link road to support up to 3,141 homes on land at Eastern Green, which was approved last year.
Last year’s planning committee agreed to the removal of an existing layby on the westbound carriageway to accommodate the scheme, but added a condition for a replacement layby to mitigate the loss.
However developers shelved plans stating there was “no suitable” option, with five potential replacement sites discounted.
Council planners recommended approval before a consultation finished on April 1 - sparking criticism the process was “not democratic” - although the final decision will rest with the committee.
The altered plan led to 12 letters of objection from residents over safety.
One resident, Peter Maddock, said: “There is no layby provision all the way along the A45 until you get to this one so for lorries it is a big issue.
“Removing another layby is not going to improve it and drivers need somewhere to stop for safety reasons.”
A layby assessment by applicant Hallam Land Management considered five sites but said there was no suitable safe option.