HC Deb 15 March 1999 vol 327 cc467-8W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the appeal by St. Leonard's and St. Ives Parish Council against the refusal of Dorset County Council to modify the definitive map to add five footpaths at Lions Hill, St Leonard's was made; and on what date he expects it to be determined. [76470]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: This appeal was received by the Government Office for the South West in January 1997. The determination process has now reached an advance stage and the decision should be issued by the end of this month.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many employees of the Government Office for the South West are allocated to the determination of appeals involving footpaths. [76471]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 12 March I999]: The Government Office for the South West has a team of eight staff dealing with the determination of appeals including rights of way cases.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the earliest date of a case involving a footpath appeal which is still awaiting determination by the Government office in Bristol; and how many more recent cases are awaiting determination. [76469]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: The earliest footpath appeals awaiting determination are a group of nine interlinked appeals which completed the necessary procedural stages in January 1997. There are 21 more such cases awaiting determination.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many right of way appeals are currently outstanding in each of the Government's regional offices. [76468]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: The number of appeal cases currently outstanding in each of the Government's regional offices is shown in the table.

Regional Office No. of appeals
North West 5
North East 4
Yorkshire and the Humber 10
East Midlands 2
West Midlands 5
Eastern Region 3
South West 53
South East (incl. London) 18
Total 100