§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will now take steps to acquire at a full market valuation properties in Cheshunt affected by the proposed A10 improvement;
(2) how many representations he has received concerning the effect on properties in Cheshunt of the proposed A10 improvement;
(3) when he expects to give a substantive reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne dated 1 July, 29 August, 12 November and 13 November 1991 concerning the possible effect on properties of his Department's proposals to improve the A 10 through Cheshunt;
(4) further to his answer to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley), Official Report, column 235, when guidelines for the new discretionary power to acquire property seriously affected by his Department's road schemes will be announced.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Department has already purchased 36 properties under the statutory blight provisions in the190W Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended. It is also committed to acquiring 49 others, while a further 37 are under consideration.
There have been a large number of enquiries about the road proposals and about property blight—both written and by telephone.
The specific correspondence which my hon. Friend mentions is concerned with the application of the new power given by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 to acquire properties which in the opinion of the Secretary of State will be seriously affected by the road scheme. When the criteria by which this discretionary power will be exercised have been decided, I shall write further to my hon. Friend.