HC Deb 24 February 1989 vol 147 cc809-10W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role he expects Waveney district council and Suffolk county council to adopt in respect of(a) the line of route for the new crossing of Lake Lothing at Lowestoft following his decision to engage more consultants and (b) planning applications arising in the envelope of potential development over the next six months.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

My right hon. Friend will decide the line of the route for a second trunk road crossing of the harbour at Lowestoft when the necessary statutory procedures have been completed. Both Waveney district council and Suffolk county council will be consulted when we have identified specific options. The district council and the county council, as the local planning authorities for the area, will continue to carry out their proper functions of deciding whether or not to grant permission for any planning applications they receive.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he is ordering a further consultants' report to recommend a route for the new crossing of Lake Lothing at Lowestoft.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The consultants are being asked to extend their current study to the identification of specific options for the second trunk road crossing of the harbour at Lowestoft. Proposals will be presented for public consultation at the earliest opportunity. The preferred route will be selected in the light of the results of that consultation.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why, at a meeting with representatives of Waveney district council and Suffolk county council on 20 February, officials from his Department gave no hint as to the likely recommendations of the line of route for the new crossing of Lake Lothing at Lowestoft contained in the Maunsell 2 report; and if he will make a statement as to why he commissioned the report.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The second study by consulting engineers G. Maunsell and Partners was necessary to update their original report which was carried out in 1986. A preferred route for a second trunk road crossing of the harbour at Lowestoft has not yet been identified. Any indication of the likely line of that route would be premature until specific options have been put to public consultations and a preferred route selected by my right hon. Friend in the light of the results of that consultation.