Two public hearings will be held next month as stakeholders, businesses and community groups have their say on a long-awaited third crossing in Lowestoft.
With the government authority responsible for overseeing projects of national importance starting its examination into the Lake Lothing Third Crossing application process in December, the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) is continuing its six-month examination into Suffolk County Council's proposed project.
An open floor hearing on December 5 saw Waveney MP Peter Aldous, Waveney District Council leader Mark Bee, Suffolk County Council leader Matthew Hicks, Lowestoft Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and other local and regional organisations all give their backing to the project.
And the next stage of the examination period will see the PINS examining authority hold two meetings 'relating to the proposed Lake Lothing Lowestoft third crossing order.'
The hearings are set to be held at the Ivy House Country Hotel in Oulton Broad, on February 13.
The meetings called by the PINS examining authority consist of a development consent order hearing at 10am on Wednesday, February 13 and a compulsory acquisition hearing at 2pm on Febuary 13.
The hearings are for any registered, interested parties – such as stakeholders, local businesses and community groups – as they get the chance to address the examining authority on the specific subject of that hearing.
The examining authority will then consider these comments when compiling its report.
Two further hearings were due to be held on Thursday, February 14 and Friday, February 15, however these have now been postponed until a later date.
At the end of the examination period in June, the Planning Inspectorate will have three months to submit its report and recommendation for the project to the relevant Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State will then have a further three months – around December 5 – to grant or refuse development consent for the much-needed crossing to be built, meaning a decision should be known in December 2019.
If anyone is planning to attend any of these hearings, they must email the Planning Inspectorate via lakelothing@pins.gsi.gov.uk by February 6.
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