Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Hansard, 3 July 1989)

§ Dr. Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with British Rail's safety measures associated with its proposal to run the proposed high speed rail link parallel to the M20 motorway through the village of Sellindge.

§ Mr. Portillo
British Rail will need to satisfy the railway inspectorate on this and other safety aspects of the proposed Channel tunnel rail link. Preliminary discussions have been held.

§ Dr. Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask British Rail to consider re-routing the proposed high speed rail link to the south of the village of Sellindge.

§ Mr. Portillo
That suggestion has been put to British Rail and I understand that it is looking at it, among many others.

§ Dr. Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask British Rail to reconsider the Rachel alternative to the proposed high speed rail link.

§ Mr. Portillo
British Rail has indicated why it thinks that Rachel is not appropriate, but is none the less studying it.

§ Dr. Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to seek to ensure that the village of Sellindge is environmentally protected from the proposed high speed rail link.

§ Mr. Portillo
British Rail will need to convince both the Government and Parliament that all environmental concerns have been fully considered and, so far as is reasonably possible, met.