§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the widening of Eastgate Bridge in Bury St. Edmunds takes fully into account the fact that in the period since his inquiry was completed the channel between Abbots Bridge and Eastgate Bridge has not experienced any major build up of water, despite the high volume of rainfall during this period.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe inquiry into the widening of Eastgate Bridge took place on 4th August, and we are now waiting for the inspector's report. Generally speaking, it is not open to inspectors to take into account new evidence submitted after the inquiry, but the Secretary of State can do so. If such new evidence inclines him to disagree with an inspector's recommendation, he is obliged to inform the applicant, the local planning authority and statutory objectors who appeared at the inquiry, of the reason for his disagreement, and to give them the opportunity to make further representations or to ask for the inquiry to be reopened. Until the inspector's report on the Eastgate Bridge inquiry is available I am not, of course, able to say whether the correspondence the hon. Member has sent me constitutes new evidence.