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Agenda item 4 concerns a petition that was lodged by Stow station supporters, who have also lodged an objection to the bill. I invite comments from committee members. In particular, what further action, if any, do we wish to take on the petition?
I am opposed to the petition, on the basis that there are other ways in which we can examine the issue about Stow station. I am not sure that the petition is the right way to go ahead. The group has recourse to other ways of examining whether there should be a station at Stow. We will be looking at that as part of our evidence taking.
I support that view, on the grounds that the petitioners will not be adversely affected by our decision not to proceed with the petition. The matters that they raise are likely to be considered by the committee as the bill goes through its stages. I support the proposal that we do not consider the petition.
I will clarify one matter in relation to paper WAV/S2/04/3/2 on the petition. Petitions that relate to private bills may still be admitted. However, my understanding is that the Public Petitions Committee is unlikely to recommend that any further action be taken on such petitions when a private bill is before us. I take it that the committee does not want to consider the petition further, because the merits and demerits of the provision of a railway station at Stow could be part of our consideration during the process of the bill. Is that agreed?