§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Detling to Mailing section of British Rail's previous southerly route for the channel tunnel rail link from which safeguarding has now been withdrawn is outside the preferred corridor referred to in his answer to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing of 9 June,Official Report, column 116.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Detling to Hailing section of the originally safeguarded route was withdrawn on 5 November 1991 by the then Secretary of State because there was no common agreement to the west of Detling between the Ove Arup preferred route and that of British Rail. The Government preferred the Ove Arup approach which involves crossing the Thames near Dartford and arriving at King's Cross via Stratford. The Government have stated that the route indicated on the maps circulated last year was on the line of that put forward by Ove Arup, but have never suggested that the precise Ove Arup alignment could or should be definitive. West of Detling tal,the Government are committed to a preferred route corridor and not a specific safeguardable line. British Rail are considering carefully the cost, environmental and engineering implications of the route and will present to Ministers later this year any proposed diversions from this base reference. Any such diversions would have to be justified and in due course, if accepted, be subject to public consultations and planning approval.