§ Mr. Cowansasked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the British Railways Board relating to the use of railway facilities as an alternative to constructing (a) the Kirkhamgate-Dishforth trunk route, (b) the new proposed Oxford-Birmingham trunk route and (c) the scheme for the new bypass at Winchester; and if he will make them available in the Library.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe following representations have been received from British Rail:
- (a) Kirkhamgate-Dishforth route. The Chief Executive (Railways) of the British Railways Board wrote to the Department of the Environment on 22nd March 1976, and met Departmental officials on 29th June 1976.
- (b) Oxford-Birmingham route. The General Manager, British Rail Western Region, wrote to my Department on 12th December 1977.
- (c) M3 Winchester Bypass. British Rail Southern Region appeared at the public inquiry into this section of the M3 on 15th March 1977, and submitted a written statement to the inspector.
In all the above cases, British Rail requested that in considering the investment in the road proposals I should take 229W account of the present and potential capacity of the existing rail network.
With the agreement of the British Railways Board, copies of the representations will be placed in the Library.