TRANSPORT AND WORKS ACT 1992

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions gives notice, pursuant to section 14(1)(b) of the Transport and Works Act 1992 (“the Act”) that he has determined under section 13(1) of the Act to make with modifications the Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Ashton-under-Lyne Extension) Order 1998 (“the Order”) forthwith after the publication of this notice. The Order will come into force 21 days after it has been made.   The Order was applied for by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, 9 Portland Street, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester M60 1HX.   The Order will authorise the construction, operation and maintenance of a 10 kilometres (6 mile) extension of the Greater Manchester Metrolink light rail system from Manchester Piccadilly to Ashton-under-Lyne.   Before making this determination, the Secretary of State considered the environmental statement submitted with the application for the Order. He complied with the obligations under section 10 of the Act in relation to all objections which related to the environmental statement and referred to the Inspector all representations (other than objections) which related to the environmental statement.   Copies of the Order (once made) may be obtained from The Stationery Office Limited at the address shown on the last page of this Gazette or through booksellers. A. S. D. Whybrow, Head of Traffic Policy Division, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR.