Bath MP Don Foster has today written to the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham MP, to re-affirm his view that the Bus Rapid Transit planning application should be called in.

Don wrote to Mr Denham’s predecessor at the department, Hazel Blears, in the lead up to the local planning meeting on June 20th. Ms Blear agreed to a ‘Section 14 Direction’, meaning she would take a closer look at the plans. This direction is still in force.

Don said:

I felt it was important for the new Secretary of State to receive my views on this issue first hand, which is why I have written to him drawing attention to my correspondence with his predecessor. I do not believe that consultation with local residents has been adequate, and research into alternative routes has not been considered. These are both issues I raised at an Overview and Scrutiny panel meeting last autumn.