§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Transport the statutory and other obligations in respect of the Kennet and Avon Canal from which the Great Western Railway Company are seeking to be released under the abandonment order for which they have applied; whether any officer of his Department has been appointed and sent to inspect the canal referred to in the company's application; and whether he will publish at once such evidence and information as may be furnished to him by the company in support of their application and also the Report of any officer appointed by him to obtain evidence relative to the proposed abandonment, so that owners and occupiers of land adjacent to the canal may have an opportunity of considering the consequences to them of the abandonment if authorised?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe railway company applied for authority to abandon the Kennet and Avon Canal and its associated waterways, and to be released from all liability to maintain the navigation and from all obligations in respect thereof, but have since informed me that they do not intend to proceed with that portion of their application relating to the section of waterway from Bath to Hannam Mills. I have not yet appointed an officer to inspect the canal, but my present intention is, if there are important outstanding objections to this application, to arrange for a public inquiry into it. The company have been required to publish full particulars of their application.