Public Inquiries as an Instrument of Government

To the unfortunate citizen threatened by the demolition of his house to make way for a new road, or by the shattering of his peace through the building of a new airport, the public inquiry can provide a last hope of reprieve. It may also be called into play in less dramatic circumstances, when the local council declines to approve the building of a garage or when a property owner wishes to divide up his house into flats or bed-sitting rooms. Originally published in 1971, the nature and oper...