Southern Link Road Public Inquiry begins

Lawyers acting on behalf of Herefordshire Council today set out the local authority’s case during the first sitting of the Southern Link Road public inquiry.

Inspector David Wildsmith explained the procedures and laid out the programme for the eight-day inquiry which was called by transport secretary Chris Grayling to look into the scheme’s compulsory purchase and side road orders.

Mr Wildsmith told those present at Hereford’s Left Bank that statutory objectors Welsh Water and Network Rail had withdrawn their objections.

Celine Colquhoun, representing the council, said Western Power were also poised to withdraw.

Presenting her opening submission, Ms Colquhoun explained that the extensive evidence showed that there ‘is overall a clear and compelling case in the public interest for the compulsory purchase orders’ and that the road scheme would be ‘delivered and effective’.

She also said that the Southern Link Road project had attracted a great deal of local attention with the council receiving more than 1750 letters of objection during the planning stage of the proposals – and there had been 28 objections to the compulsory orders.

“Despite local campaigns and controversy at times, the importance [of the proposals] as a measure to help ensure a positive future for Hereford has been established,” she said.

“The public benefits of the SLR have in effect been tested and proven through the planning system and the council can show readily that there is no impediment to the delivery of the scheme once the required land has been assembled.”

Ms Colquhoun explained that the proposals behind the compulsory order lands have been subject to extensive consideration, analysis and repeated support as well as repeated public consultation over at least 20 years.

“There can be no doubt, looking at the long history behind this road and at the processes already gone through, that the public have had any number of opportunities to influence whether there is a road here but if so were this road should,” she said.

“At planning stage, it was seen as controversial, there were in excess of 1750 letters of objection albeit that this involved a national campaign by the Woodland Trust which was concerned about loss of Ancient Woodland.

“Twenty-eight objections to the orders have been received by the secretary of state.

“The overwhelming majority of the objections, i.e. 21, are from ‘non-statutory’ objectors or third parties.

“As such, they are not landowners or those with an interest in land affected by the exercise of the council’s powers of acquisition of that interest right, but are those who, in effect, object to the underlying scheme to be enabled by the exercise of those powers which justifies the orders.

“Of the seven objections from statutory objectors, two have withdrawn their objection namely Network Rail and Welsh Water, the remainder have all agreed to terms of purchase other than Mr & Mrs Kitchener.”

The public inquiry continues.