QUESTIONS concerning the controversy over the prospect of roads around Letchworth GC being used to transport equipment for the new Hitchin rail project are to be asked in the House of Commons. North East Herts MP Oliver Heald is to ask the secretary of st

QUESTIONS concerning the controversy over the prospect of roads around Letchworth GC being used to transport equipment for the new Hitchin rail project are to be asked in the House of Commons.

North East Herts MP Oliver Heald is to ask the secretary of state for transport, Lord Adonis, about the use of road rather than rail to bring in bulk materials for the Network Rail project.

Mr Heald said this week he had received information from local civil engineer Derek Manning who lives in Stotfold Road, which is one of the roads that will be affected, suggesting that rail is best environmentally and more practical for the Hitchin works with a tipper conveyor system.

Mr Heald said: "I am surprised that the rail proposal has been ruled out by Network Rail and am therefore asking the minister what his policy is."

Mr Heald's s questions to Lord Adonis are:

* What his policy is on the use of road haulage rather than rail haulage for movement of bulk materials for rail infrastructure works

* What assessment he has made of the environmental impact of (a) road haulage (b) rail haulage for movement of bulk materials for rail infrastructure works

* What discussions ministers and officials in his department have had with Network Rail about the relative merits of (a) road haulage (b) rail haulage for movement of bulk materials for rail infrastructure works