A14 Rookery Crossroads
Government Office for the East of England
John Dowie
Environment Group
Eastbrook
Shaftesbury Road
Cambridge
CB2 2DF
Tel: 01223 372723
GTN: 3841 2723
Fax: 01223 372862
Internet
Email: jdowie.go-east@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk
Web site: http://www.go-east.gov.uk
25 July 2003
Dear Sir/Madam
Highways Act 1980
Acquisition of Land Act 1981
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
The A14 Trunk Road (Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction) .
1. I am directed by the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Transport ("the Secretaries of State"). to refer to the concurrent public local inquiries ("the inquiries") held at Rougham Sports Hall, Rougham, Suffolk, on 25 and 26 March 2003 before Mr J E Coyne, an independent Inspector nominated by the Lord Chancellor and appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, to hear objections to, and representations about, the following draft Orders:-
The A14 Trunk Road (Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction Slip Roads) Order 20 ;
The A14 Trunk Road (Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction Side Roads) Order 20 ;
The A14 Trunk Road (Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction) Compulsory Purchase Order (No ) 20 , and
The A14 Trunk Road (Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction) (Prohibition of Use of Gaps in Central Reservation) Order 20 ..,
2. The draft Orders relate to the proposed improvement of the A14 Trunk Road east of Bury St Edmunds, including provision of a new grade separated junction at Rookery Crossroads.
The inspector's report
3. A copy of the Inspector's report is enclosed. In this letter references to paragraph numbers in the Inspector's report are indicated by the abbreviation "IR". The Inspector concluded (IR 6.1 to 6.25) in favour of the published proposals. He recommended (IR 7.1 to 7.4) that the Slip Roads and Gap Closure Orders be made as published in draft; and that the Side Roads and Compulsory Purchase Orders be made subject to the modifications in IR 6.21 to 6.24, the latter Order to be made when the necessary written consents from land interests concerned have been received.
The decision of the Secretaries of State
4. The Secretaries of State have carefully considered all the objections, representations and expressions of support, together with the Inspector's report. They have considered the requirements of local and national planning, including the requirements of agriculture.
5. The Secretaries of State are satisfied that the scheme accords with the aims and objectives of the Government's White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" and will contribute to the Government's objective of reducing accidents. They note that the scheme is included in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements. The Secretaries of State agree with-the Inspector's conclusions and accept his recommendations.
Orders to be made
6. In the light of the above the Secretary of State for Transport will make as soon as possible the Orders listed in paragraph 1 above in line with the Inspector's recommendations. The Secretary of State for Transport is of the opinion that the modifications to the Side Roads Order will not make a substantial change to the Order for the purpose of paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 1 to the Highways Act 1980. The Secretaries of State confirm that the Compulsory Purchase Order will be made with the modifications recommended by the Inspector after the necessary written consents have been obtained.
7. Public notice will be given when the Orders are made. Any person who wishes to question their validity, or of any particular provision contained in them, on the grounds that the Secretary of State for Transport has exceeded his powers or has not complied with the relevant statutory requirements in making the Orders may, under the provisions of Schedule 2 to the Highways Act 1980, section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and Part VI of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, do so by application to the High Court. Such application must be made within six weeks of publication of notice that the Slip Roads, Side Roads and Compulsory Purchase Orders have been made and, in the case of the Gap Closure Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, within six weeks from the date the Order is made.
Compensation
8. After the Compulsory Purchase Order has been made the owners and occupiers of the land in the made Order will be approached about the amount of compensation payable to them in respect of their interest in the land. If the amount cannot be agreed with the Highways Agency's valuer the matter may be referred for determination to the Lands Tribunal under the Lands Tribunal Act 1949 and the Land Compensation Acts 1961 and 1973.
Availability of inspector's report
9. A copy of this letter and the Inspector's report has been sent to those who objected or made representation or expressed support. Any person who is entitled to be supplied with a copy of the Inspector's report may apply to the Secretaries of State, within six weeks of receipt of this letter, to inspect any document appended to the report. Any such application should be made to Robert Saunders, the Government Office for the East of England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 2DF (Tel: 01223 372755). Applications should state the date and time (within normal office hours) when it is proposed to make the inspection. At least three days notice should be given if possible.
Yours faithfully
John Dowie
Director, Planning and Transport
