§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to the effects of blight arising from his consultative document on alternative routes for the A27 in the Worthing and Shoreham constituencies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThe policy regarding planning blight is set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and the Land Compensation Act 1973. Although the statutory planning blight remedies do not apply until a decision on a preferred 453W route has been reached, my right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider buying a property where the owner is suffering severe financial hardship as a result of being unable to sell as a result of the public consultation exercise. It is fully realised that the publication of several possible routes for this section of the A27 has caused concern about blight in the area. My right hon. Friend therefore hopes to announce a decision on the preferred route next spring in order to reduce this uncertainty to a minimum.
§ Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the full analysis of future traffic on the A27 which forms the basis of the figures he has put forward for public consideration in the Worthing and Shoreham constituencies and the assumptions on which this analysis rests.
§ Mr CarmichaelNo. It will take a little time to assemble the information from the various sources in order to produce the analysis requested by the hon. Member. I will write to him as soon as possible.