A500 Stoke Pathfinder project
Government Office for the West Midlands
Director - Northern Division
Direct Line - 0121 212 5087
Fax - 0121 212 5301
Email: pholland.gowm@go-regions.go.uk
77 Paradise Circus,
Queensway,
Birmingham,
B1 2DT
15 April 2003
Dear Sir/Madam
Highways Act 1980
Acquisition of Land Act 1981
A500 Trunk Road (Stoke Pathfinder Project)
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 the North Staffordshire Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent, on 6 and 7 November 2002 before Mr R F Shercliff, 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 A500 Trunk Road (Stoke Pathfinder Project) and Slip Roads Order 200;
The A500 Trunk Road (Stoke Pathfinder Project) Side Roads Order 200;
The A500 Trunk Road (Stoke Pathfinder Project) Detrunking Order 200; and
The A500 Trunk Road (Stoke Pathfinder Project) Compulsory Purchase Order (No ) 200.
2. The draft Orders relate to the proposed improvement of the existing A500 Trunk Road from Shelton New Road to the A50 Interchange, in Stoke-on-Trent.
The inspector's report
3. A copy of the Inspector's report is enclosed. In this letter references to paragraph numbers in the Inspectors' report are indicated by the abbreviation "IR". The Inspector's conclusions are at IR 8.1 to 8.48. He concluded in favour of the published proposals and recommended that the Orders should be made as published in draft, subject to modifications (IR 9.1).
The decision of the Secretaries of State
4. The Secretaries of State have carefully considered all of 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 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.
6. The Secretaries of State have noted the Inspector's comments at IR 8.30 relating to Communibus. They note the effect of the proposals on operations of Communibus but are nevertheless satisfied that the published proposals in this area should be adopted. However, they are also pleases to note that the Highways Agency have proposed a solution that should resolve the matter and also address the concerns of the Inspector.
Orders to be made
7. In the light of the above the Secretary of State for Transport will shortly make the Orders listed in paragraph 1 above, as published in draft, subject to the minor modifications set out in Appendix C of the Inspector's report.
8. Public Notice will be given when the Orders are made. Any person who wishes to question their validity, or any particular provision contained in them, on the grounds that the Secretary of State 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 and section 23 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, do so by publication of notice that the Orders have been made.
Compensation
9. 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 Act 1949 and the Land Compensation Acts 1961 and 1973.
Availability of inspector's report
10. A copy of this letter and 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 Secretary of State for Transport within six weeks of receipt of this letter, to inspect any document appended to the report. Any such application should be made to Joy Gittos, the Government Office for the West Midlands, 77 Paradise Circus, Queensway, Birmingham B1 2DT (Tel: 0121 212 5265). Application 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
Philippa Holland
