HC Deb 15 March 1994 vol 239 cc648-9W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing all correspondence between his Department and Barnet council regarding the proposed sale by the council to his Department of land adjacent to Coppetts wood in Finchley which is now proposed to be given as exchange land for (a) widening the north circular road east of Fallodert way and (b) widening the north circular at Regent's Park road and Great North way, showing (i) the date of each piece of correspondence. (ii) the sender and recipient and (iii) the nature of each piece of correspondence; whether it was his Department or the council which first suggested the sale of the land to his Department; on what date the sale was completed; and how much was paid to the council for the land.

Mr. Norris

The exchange land at Coppetts wood is the subject of compulsory purchase orders and exchange land certificates. The orders were made and the certificates were issued after consideration by an independent inspector at public inquiry.

I am placing the information requested in the Library. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 February 1994, at columns 466–69.

The suggestion that land adjacent to Coppetts wood be acquired for use as exchange land was made first by my Department in 1985.

Purchase of the land adjacent to Coppetts wood forms part of a larger transaction between the Department and Barnet council and completion has not taken place. The price to be paid is the subject of negotiations between the council and the district valuer who is acting for the Department.