TABLE OF CONTENTS In a limited number of cases, a planning proposal involving a major hazard goes to a public inquiry. The inquiry will then normally hear technical evidence, which is likely to centre around the hazard assessments carried out by the parties. Experience shows that there are a number of problems associated with expert testimony at public inquiries.
A study of large public inquiries is given in The Big Public Inquiry by Sieghart (1979).
Accounts have been given of the public inquiries at Mossmorran by McGill (1981, 1982, 1983), Pheasant Wood by Petts (1985b) and at Canvey by Petts (1985a). A comparative review of the problems of expert evidence at public inquiries and proposals for their mitigation has been given by Petts, Withers and Lees (1986).
Public accident inquiries are discussed in Chapter 27.
It is usual in Scotland for planning applications for major oil-related developments to be called in for review by the Secretary of State. In the case of the application of Shell Expro to build a gas plant and of Esso Chem to build an ethylene cracker at Mossmorran together with associated facilities at Braefoot Bay, the minister decided on a public inquiry, which was held in 1977. The local planning authority (LPA) retained the consultants Cremer and Warner to produce an assessment of the hazards. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also gave its own assessment. These were the two main sources of technical evidence and neither opposed the development. Opposition came from local interest...
