§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the Highways Agency to lift its holding directive in order to allow Warrington borough council to determine the planning application for the re-development of Birchwood Park. [8203]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ginny Clarke to Helen Jones, dated 18 October 2001:
The Roads Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Holding Direction issued to Warrington Borough Council by the Highways Agency on 27 June this year, in respect of the Birchwood Park Outline Planning Application.The Minister's letter of 11 October in reply to yours of 18 September (copies enclosed), explained why the Direction was issued and the prerequisites for the Direction to be lifted. Since then we have now presented the independent study document to the Developer and his consultants. We hope it will form a basis for us, the local Highway Authority and the Developer to discuss the likely impact of the development on the surrounding highway network, and to determine the necessary measures to cater for that impact.We do not wish to delay this proposal, but we must ensure that its traffic implications are properly assessed. Progress towards lifting the Direction is dependent on the Developer's consultant presenting suitable measures to provide for the impact on the trunk road and motorway network.I am sorry that I cannot, at the moment, say when the Holding Direction will be lifted. If you would like any further information about this scheme, you may wish to contact the Agency's Development Control Officer for this particular application, Tony McVay, Room 710, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M I 4BE (telephone 0161 930 5764).