Department for Transport

TRANSPORT AND WORKS ACT 1992

The Secretary of State for Transport gives notice under section 14(1)(b), (2A), (3A) and (3AA) of the Transport and Works Act 1992 (“the Act”) that she has determined under section 13(1) of the Act to make with modifications the Felixstowe Branch Line and Ipswich Yard Improvement Order (“the Order”).

The Order was applied for by Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company (“FDRC”), Port of Felixstowe, Tomline House, The Dock, Felixstowe IP11 3SY. It will authorise FDRC to dual about 7 kilometres of the Ipswich to Felixstowe branch railway line and to carry out improvements to the Ipswich Yard and Westerfield level crossing. It also includes provision for the permanent or temporary acquisition of land; stopping up, diverting or changing the status of highways; altering or closing level crossings; carrying out street works; and for transferring the powers in the Order to Network Rail. Copies of the Order, once made, may be obtained from the Stationery Office or through booksellers.

The Secretary of State has, pursuant to section 14(1)(a) of the Act, given notice of her determination by way of a decision letter dated 22 July 2008, copies of which may be obtained from the TWA Orders Unit, Department for Transport, Zone 9/09, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT. That letter gives the reasons for the determination and the considerations upon which it is based; information about the public participation process; and information regarding the right to challenge the validity of the determination and the procedures for doing so.

The Secretary of State confirms that, before making her determination, she considered the environmental statement provided by the applicant and all objections and other representations relating to it, and that she otherwise complied with the obligations referred to in section 14(3A) of the Act. For the purposes of section 14(3AA), she confirms that the main measures to avoid, reduce and, if possible, remedy any major adverse environmental effects are those referred to in paragraphs 19 and 47 of the decision letter.

Ellis Harvey, Head of the TWA Orders Unit, Department for Transport, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DT