HL Deb 18 July 1973 vol 344 cc1139-41

2.46 p.m.

LORD IRONSIDE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they agree with the precipitate decision of the Essex County Council Highways and Planning Committee in selecting the Northern route for the proposed Chelmsford A.12 By-pass; and, in view of the importance attached by the Department of the Environment to the method by which such planning decisions are reached, whether the reasons for Essex County Council's decision can be made publicly known and subjected to proper public scrutiny.

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, the decision on the route of the A.12 Chelmsford By-pass will be a matter for my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environ- meat. In accordance with the new arrangements for consulting the public at an early stage in road planning, members of the public were asked to state a preference for one of three routes. The Essex County Council expressed a preference for the Northern route. It is for the county council to decide whether to make public the reasons for their choice.

LORD IRONSIDE

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer; but is he aware that I live in the area and that there is widespread objection to the Northern route from the rural district council, from the borough council and from the three action groups? In fact, one might say that this route has no friend in the world except the Essex County Council. Is my noble friend further aware that intense interest is being taken in the planning of this by-pass, particularly from the point of view of the new planning procedures, and that Chelmsford is here being used as an experiment? Would he not agree therefore that if a proper judgment is to be made by the local community it is important for the county council to make known their reasons for the selection of the Northern route?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I take my noble friend's point. In fact, in this particular case the Essex County Council are not the planning authority. They are just one of the local authorities who have given their views, as others have been asked to do. Thirteen thousand completed questionnaires have been received, and when my right honourable friend makes his announcement in due course he will no doubt indicate which way they favoured.

LORD IRONSIDE

My Lords, may I further ask my noble friend whether he knows when the Secretary of State expects to lay a draft proposal under the Highways Act?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I cannot give my noble friend an exact date. My right honourable friend is studying the data received from local authorities and amenity bodies, and in the course of the summer he will be announcing his decision. Of course, if there are substantial objections an inquiry will be held.

LORD BURTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that planning procedures already proceeding on the A.12 by-pass are grossly in excess of what we are allowed for any trunk road in Scotland? Would he advise the Ministers concerned that we should like to increase the planning procedures in Scotland too?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I am sure my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will take notice of my noble friend's question.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, can the noble Lord say how many major routes have been approved without objection?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I think that is a little wide of the Question on the Order Paper, and I should need notice of it.