§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances he will(a) publish or (b) make available to Derbyshire county council the reports by the landscape advisory committee and the report of the consulting engineers on the A6 Disley bypass.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn accordance with the policy set out in the "Report on the Review of Highway Inquiry Procedures 1978" (Cmnd. 7133), the Department will make the reports available for inspection by objectors to any orders published under the Highways Acts.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Derbyshire county council to discuss the A6 Disley bypass.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIt explained its reservations about the "brown route"—in particular its opinion of effects on the landscape; the severance problems and the difficulties for Swizzells Matlow in New Mills; and the likely high cost of the scheme due to unusual geological features in the area. I explained the environmental reasons for putting forward the brown route. I undertook to consider all the county council's comments and suggestions for alternatives before making decisions on whether a scheme should be added to the roads programme and on choice of route. I explained that if the scheme were added to the programme the standard procedure would be for all objections and representations to be aired before an independent inspector, who would make recommendations to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment.