Friarsgate CPO Enquiry
| Published: 1st October 2007 12:10 |
A Public Inquiry into the Friarsgate Compulsory Purchase Order will kick off at 10am on Tuesday 9th October at Lichfield District Council.
In March, Lichfield District Council made a Compulsory Purchase Order to secure the properties and rights necessary to enable the £95 million Friarsgate retail and leisure scheme to go ahead.
The Public Inquiry will be an opportunity for objectors to the Compulsory Purchase Order (and the associated Road Closure Order) to explain why they believe the development will adversely affect them or their business to a Government appointed Inspector. The Inspector will also hear evidence from Lichfield District Council and Harrison - the developer of the scheme.
The Inquiry will run from Tuesday 9th October and is expected to last two weeks. It is open to the general public and will be running from 10am each day in the Committee Room of District Council House, Frog Lane.
In all 23 objections were made to the Friarsgate Compulsory Purchase Order. Since receiving these, representatives from the District Council and the Developer have met with many of the objectors to try to resolve the issues. A number have since withdrawn their objections and it is anticipated that more will follow before the Inquiry gets underway.
Councillor David S Smith, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: "We will continue our negotiations with objectors and we're confident a number of them will withdraw their objections before the Inquiry. However, the Friarsgate scheme is vital to the future of Lichfield and therefore the Council and its development partner will argue strongly for the Order to be confirmed."
Following the Inquiry, the Inspector will write a report which will be sent to the Secretary of State, who is expected to announce the final decision next year in February or March.
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