§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has secured the agreement of Midland Expressway Ltd. to provide a crossing for the Hatherton Canal in the construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [157771]
§ Mr. HillThe obligations of Midland Expressway Ltd. (MEL) to the future restoration of the Hatherton Canal are set out in the Secretary of State's decision letter published on 28 July 1997. MEL is required to facilitate the full restoration works waiving any consequential loss of tolls that these works may occasion. It is not required to provide a crossing for the canal and it has not agreed to do so.
I understand MEL has met the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust to discuss the trust's proposals for the canal crossings. The trust would like the canal crossings to be included in the BNRR construction contract and is seeking to raise funds to pay for these. I understand that MEL is continuing to work co-operatively with the trust.