HC Deb 24 July 1986 vol 102 cc455-6W
Mr. Baldry

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultation his Department had with Cherwell district council prior to the announcement of Ardley as a site for a motorway service area on the M40 extension;

(2) on what days (a) Esso Petroleum plc and (b) Cherwell district council were told of his Department's decision to site a motorway service area at Ardley.

Mr. David Mitchell

There were informal advance consultations with the district council. These took the form of meetings and correspondence. The proposal was announced on 10 July, and an advance notice of the announcement was sent to the district council on 9 July. No advance notice was given to Esso. Formal consultations are now proposed with the district council under the procedures applying to Crown development.