After opening the Inquiry and discussing points of procedure, the Inspector will first invite the PTA to make a brief opening statement. The PTA will then offer witnesses who can be questioned by the objectors and by the Inspector.
This procedure will be followed for other supporters and objectors who will
also be requested to sum up their cases before standing down.
It is estimated that the PTA will take around two weeks to present its case
for the New Tyne Crossing. Its case will be presented by the leading counsel
Mr Stephen Sauvain QC.
Any supporters will provide evidence in the week following the PTA’s case.
After that, statutory bodies will give evidence, followed by other objectors to the scheme. At present there are around 20 objectors who may give evidence although this number may change if objections are withdrawn following negotiations with the PTA and its advisers.
Statements of case.
The Deputy Prime Minister has written to everyone who has expressed an interest in taking part in the Inquiry to request a statement of case setting out in greater detail why they support or object to the proposals. Parties who submitted statements of case by 1 November 2002 are entitled to appear at the Inquiry.
Statement of matters.
This was issued by the Deputy Prime Minister in December 2002 after he had reviewed the statements of case issued by all parties making representation and sets out the particular issues on which he wishes to be informed in order to make a decision. This has been served on the PTA and all parties entitled to appear at the Inquiry. A copy of it may be viewed here
Proofs of evidence.
Proofs of evidence setting out the full case to be presented by each party were submitted to the Inspector and exchanged with other parties on 11 February 2003. If the Proof of Evidence is over 1500 words long then a summary of no more than 1500 words was also submitted. The TWPTA's proofs of evidence have been made available for public viewing at Civic Centre Newcastle, Howdon Library, Jarrow Town Hall and South Shields Town Hall.
The TWPTA proofs will also be posted on this site in pdf format soon after
the date of exchange.
Any
rebuttal evidence must be submitted a minimum of seven days before the evidence
is to be presented.
The Inquiry will provide an opportunity for all parties to present their cases
and to test the arguments of the other side. The Inquiry will focus on the
main issues of dispute and the issues the Deputy Prime Minister has asked
about in his Statement of Matters.
Inquiry Documents - where to view them
Copies of the Proofs of Evidence, core documents and other documents were submitted to the Inspector on 11 February 2003. They have been made available for public viewing at Newcastle Civic Centre, Howdon Library, Jarrow Town Hall and South Shields Town Hall during normal opening hours .