Mr. John M. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on planning application No. 98/0259 in respect of a proposed motorway service station at Ravenshaw in Solihull. [37942]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonA planning application for a motorway service area (MSA) at Junction 5 of the M42 at Ravenshaw has been submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. The Highways Agency has been consulted and has requested a traffic impact assessment so that it can consider the effect of the proposal on the operation and safety of the motorway. This is the second recent planning application for a new MSA in this area but, whatever the merits of the individual sites, no more than one signposted MSA would be permitted on this stretch of the M42.