HC Deb 18 July 1973 vol 860 cc135-6W
Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of misunderstanding created by preliminary work now being carried out under his authority at Maplin Sands, he will make it clear that this work in no way prejudices the outcome of the parliamentary consideration of the Maplin Development Bill.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

I am not aware of any misunderstanding. Parliamentary consideration of the Maplin Development Bill has not been prejudiced by the preliminary investigations, and any subsequent proceedings will be materially assisted by the facts those investigations will provide.

Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the extent of the work already in progress at Maplin Sands for the reclamation of land for the development of a combined airport-seaport complex, giving details of the contract awarded to Fairway Consortium and the instructions he gave to the Port of London Authority and the Third London Airport Directorate concerning the limits of this contract.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

No reclamation work is in progress at Maplin Sands. A number of preliminary investigations and practical tests are being carried out. These have included the construction of a trial bank of dredged material outside the reclamation area. The bank will not form part of the proposed reclamation works.

Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the routes for the access roads to Maplin and the new town.

Mr. Rippon

On 23rd July I shall publish two consultation documents. One sets out the various possible corridors within which the motorway and high-speed rail link to Maplin could run, and the other delineates a suggested designation area for the proposed new town. Copies of the consultation documents will be available from the Vote Office on that date.

I am inviting local authorities, other public bodies and the public generally to let me have their comments on the proposals. I shall take those comments into account before selecting one access corridor for more detailed survey and design, and before deciding on the area to be included in a draft new town designation order.