Highways Agency

LAND COMPENSATION ACT 1973 (AS AMENDED)

A1 Foston to Long Bennington Gap Closures

The Secretary of State for Transport hereby gives notice that the length of highway detailed in the schedule below was fully opened to public traffic on 22 October 2004.

Under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (as amended) there is a right to compensation in respect of any depreciation of more than £50 in the value of certain interests in land caused by the use of new or altered highways and resulting from specified physical factors (noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, and artificial lighting and the discharge on to the land in respect of which the claim is made of any solid or liquid substance). Compensation is assessed by reference to prices current at a date twelve months after the highway is first open to public traffic, or in the case of altered highway, first open to public traffic after completion of the alterations.

Interests qualifying for compensation are specified in section 2 of the above-mentioned Act and there are special provisions relating to claims by mortgagees and persons entitled under trusts or settlements. However, no compensation can be paid under Part I where part of a property has been acquired for the purpose of constructing the highway.

Any person entitled to a qualifying interest who considers that they have a claim under the said provisions may obtain further information and claims forms from the Highways Agency, Lands Delivery Support Division, Heron House, 49-53 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3LL (telephone 01234 796663 - please ask for Mrs Janet Collins).

Claims can be made twelve months after the new or altered highway is first open to public traffic, (that is on or after 23rd October 2005). Claims should be made within six years from this date.

The scheme consists of the closure of of 8 central reserve gaps and the implementation of ' U' turn bans on a further 7 gaps, construction of a 1km long link road and roundabout with street lighting, a realigned slip onto the A1 southbound at Long Bennington, widening of the A1 at the former Foston Crossroads, improvement of the A1 southbound merge taper at Main Road, Foston and the provision of an auxiliary lane serving Allington Lane and the services on the A1 northbound. The scheme affects the A1 between Long Bennington flyover and Gonerby Moor Roundabout.