Leadenham Bypass (Hansard, 2 December 1991)

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the original orders that would enable the bypass to be built were quashed in the High Court. It was therefore necessary to publish new draft orders to obtain statutory authority to construct a bypass of Leadenham. These have attracted a number of objections that cannot be resolved other than by holding another public inquiry.

§ Baroness Strange
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his extremely courteous and also extremely discouraging reply. Is he not aware that it was the opinion of my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs that a northern route would be preferable? Is he not further aware that to hold a second public inquiry overturning the result of the first must surely be a waste of public money?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I was not aware that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had pronounced upon the merits or otherwise of the particular route involved in this bypass. However, there is to be another public inquiry and the cost will be in addition to that which has already been incurred. As I have outlined, it is necessary.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, is it not the case that the inspector at the first inquiry found very firmly in favour of the northern route on environmental grounds? I understand that he said that in this case, when economic and environmental considerations were weighed, the environmental factors should take precedence. In view of the fact that the southern route has been opposed by the CPRE, English Heritage and the Countryside Commission as well as by local residents, why are the new orders being published for that route?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, it is for the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport jointly to take the final decision and bear responsibility for it, taking into account all material considerations, including the inspector's recommendations. They are of course answerable to Parliament for the decision. As to the noble Baroness's statement that some people are in favour of the northern route, I should point out that others are in favour of the southern route.

§ Baroness Gardner of Parkes
My Lords, perhaps the Minister will accept that there is some slight confusion here. When he replied, he referred to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, but my noble friend Lady Strange referred to the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I understand him to be the Member for the constituency of Grantham, to which this Question applies. It would be a pity if Hansard 8 recorded the matter wrongly. Will my noble friend tell me whether it is possible that, in view of the fact that the original orders have been quashed by the High Court, the second public inquiry might come out with the same result as the first public inquiry?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am happy to put the matter right if my noble friend referred to the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. If that is the case, it must be right. It is possible that the second public inquiry might come to the same conclusion as the first.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, is it not the case that the southern route was supported by the overwhelming majority of the 400 inhabitants of the village of Leadenham; that the main objection came from an individual who owned most of the land in the village; and that the second inquiry will go into the question of the land? I note the fact that the court of inquiry praised the department for the attention that it paid to both the economy and the environment. Is the Minister thoroughly content that there was a satisfactory environmental assessment in this matter?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for putting forward the case for the southern route, which is the route chosen by the department. I can assure him that an environmental impact assessment has been done and will be presented again to all those involved in the second public inquiry.