HC Deb 18 July 1995 vol 263 cc1078-9W
Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the longest time that a road inquiry has taken to give public evidence in the last 10 years; which was the inquiry; and when it occurred. [34338]

Sir Paul Beresford

The longest road inquiry held in recent years was the A36 Salisbury bypass inquiry conducted by Sir Peter Buchanan. It opened on 20 April 1993 and closed on 27 April 1994, having sat for 151 days.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 27 June,Official Report, column 594, how many road inquiries have taken place in each of the last 10 years; and if he will list them and the length of time each lasted. [34339]

Sir Paul Beresford

The number of motorway, trunk road and local authority road inquiries held in England in the last 10 years for which figures are available is as follows:

  • April 1993–March 1994: 74
  • April 1992–March 1993: 72
  • April 1991–March 1992: 73
  • April 1990–March 1991: 98
  • April 1989–March 1990: 94
  • April 1988–March 1989: 81
  • April 1987–March 1988: 75
  • April 1986–March 1987: 95
  • January 1985–March 1986: 120
  • January 1984–December 1984: 110

(All figures taken from the Chief Planning Inspector's Annual Reports).

It would be very time consuming to list the inquiries and to ascertain the length of time which each lasted, and such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the conduct of the Birmingham northern relief road inquiry, the manner of taking evidence and the time it is taking to hear that evidence. [34339]

Sir Paul Beresford

The Birmingham northern relief road inquiry is being conducted by an independent inspector nominated by the Lord Chancellor and is proceeding in accordance with the Highways (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1976. This is a particularly complex inquiry into the first inland tolled motorway promoted under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The inquiry is expected to continue into October 1995, and there will be about three weeks of site inspections after it has closed.