§ Mr. HigginsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when any parties to the planning appeal regarding the Titnore lane landfill site were informed of the proposed date for the appeal to be heard; on what date the county council was informed; and what representations he has received about the time necessary for all parties to prepare their case adequately.
§ Sir George YoungThe parties, including West Sussex county council, were notified formally on 18 January that this inquiry will open on 16 April—the first date on which a suitably qualified inspector is available to take it. An informal indication of an April inquiry was given, inadvertently, to the appellants' agents during a telephone conversation in December. The county council wanted more time in which to prepare its case. However, the council's initial written statement on the appeal proposal was lodged on 19 December, and three months' notice of the inquiry is considered reasonable. Under the inquiries procedure rules this inquiry should have opened not later than 14 March, but that was not practicable.