§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has conducted into the relative merits of on-line and junction motorway service areas. [22064]
§ Mr. ByersIt is for the private sector rather than my Department to bring forward proposals for new motorway service areas and whether a developer opts for an on-line or junction location will depend on the circumstances of the individual case. The Department, through the Highways Agency, will invariably comment on specific proposals but it has no general policy preference between the two types of site.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what basis he decided that the planning inquiry into motorway service areas on the M4 and M40 should be treated as six individual inquiries; and what implication this has for the budget of(a) his Department, and (b) the local authorities concerned. [22063]
§ Mr. ByersThe planning inquiry into motorway service areas on the M25, M4 and M40 is being treated as a single inquiry. No decision has been taken to treat it as six individual inquiries. It is normal practice for the local authority to provide the venue and for the Planning Inspectorate to supply the Inspector, each bearing its own costs. At the pre-inquiry meeting on 3 December the 11W preference at the meeting was to hold the inquiry at a single location and the local authorities concerned will be liaising on this.