§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Transport if he will state the dates on which he acquired the former Whitmore timber yard in Bury St. Edmunds, the date on which the Bury St. Edmunds bypass was completed, thereby releasing a portion of this land for alternative use, the date on which he offered it to local authorities for possible purchase and the date on which he commenced negotiations with the Suffolk county council for the sale of part of the land for a lorry park; and why he is not yet able to inform private persons interested in purchasing other parts of this land of its price and availability.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAcquisition of Whitmore's timber yard was completed on 12 August 1977. The Bury St. Edmunds bypass was opened to traffic on 7 December 1973. In accordance with land disposal policy at the time, the area surplus to the Department's requirements was offered to local authorities on 2 May 1978. Suffolk county council indicated that it wished to buy and the district valuer was asked on 23 October 1978 to negotiate the sale.
The area for which Suffolk county council is negotiating is the only part of the former Whitmore's timber yard available for disposal.