HC Deb 03 July 1950 vol 477 cc6-7
8. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Works what is the acreage in Richmond Park to which the public are still denied access; for what purpose or

purposes this closed area is now used; and when he intends to permit the use of this area to the public.

The Minister of Works (Mr. Stokes)

The area of Richmond Park now closed to the public is about 564 acres. Of this just over 500 acres are under cultivation, the remainder being camp or gun sites. I hope that the whole area will be restored to the public at varying dates between the autumn of 1950 and that of 1951, with the exception of 48 acres occupied by the Kingston Gate Camp.

Sir G. Harvie-Watt

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to return the camp that is there now for the Royal Signals or to take it down as soon as possible? Is it the intention to allow the park to, continue to be used for rather large-scale agricultural development?

Mr. Stokes

As I have already explained, agriculture will shortly come to an end—within a measurable time as defined in my answer—[Laughter]—in Richmond Park. As soon as other accommodation can be found the camp will be cleared. As the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, I have already declared my intention to clean up the parks as soon as possible.

Captain Crookshank

Clean them up?

Mr. Stokes

Well, they want it sometimes.