LOCAL AUTHORITIES (LAND ACQUISITION).

HC Deb 02 December 1937 vol 329 cc2243-6

63. Mr. Kelly

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now state what price the arbiter awarded for the site of 3.25 acres acquired by the Leeds Corporation from the Martin Estate and Colliery Company, Limited, for the purposes of housing?

Sir K. Wood

I presume the hon. Member refers to the site of 325 acres owned by the Middleton Estate and Colliery Company. The official arbitrator has fixed the price to be paid by the Corporation for the freehold interests in the site (exclusive of mines and minerals) at £50,583.

64. Mr. Kelly

asked the Minister of Health whether proposals have now been submitted to him by the Old Fletton Urban District Council for the acquisition of land of about three acres at Coneygree Road and land of about six and a-half acres at London Road, Woodstone; for what purposes these sites are wanted; whether purchase has been effected, what prices have been paid; and what was the rateable value of these areas previous to purchase?

Sir K. Wood

Proposals for the purchase of the lands referred to have not been submitted to me.

65. Mr. White

asked the Minister of Health what award the official arbiter has given in connection with the two fields of 13 acres in Water Lane, York, which were acquired by the corporation for housing purposes; and whether part, or what part, of the awarded price payment was for injurious effects upon the remainder of the farm?

Sir K. Wood

The award of the official arbitrator, given on 12th August last, was that the corporation should pay the claimant £2,515 for the freehold interest in the two fields, £100 towards the claimant's costs, interest at the rate of 5 per cent. on the award from 1st September, 1935, to the date of completion of purchase, and the fees on the award. No sum was specifically included in the award for the purpose indicated in the second part of the question.

68. Sir P. Harris

asked the Minister of Health whether he will provide a statement showing particulars with regard to the acquisition of land for the purposes of the London green belt, that is, the situation and area of each portion of land acquired; the names of the vendors, prices paid, and the rateable value in each case; the names of the local authorities associated in each purchase and the amount of purchase money contributed by each local authority; whether, and to what extent, the public has free access to the land acquired, what leases or tenancies have been given to occupiers which debar the public from entering upon the land or upon any part of it; to whom such tenancies or leases have been given, and for what reason and on what terms?

Sir K. Wood

I regret that the information sought is not in my possession.

Sir P. Harris

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to collect it in due course if I put down a question at an early date, as the information would be of great interest?

Sir K. Wood

I am afraid not. Perhaps my hon. Friend will have a word with me about the matter.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that jerrybuilders are already publishing advertisements which say, "Come and live in London's green belt"?

Sir K. Wood

I am afraid that that is not a matter with which I can deal, notwithstanding my influence with the Press.

81. Mr. Jagger

asked the Minister of Health was award or awards were given by the official arbitrator in the compensation claims in connection with the acquisition of land by the Manchester Corporation for the purpose of its Collyhurst (No. 1) clearance scheme; what area of land was comprised under the scheme; and what was the rateable value of the properties upon it before clearance?

Sir K. Wood

Thirty such awards have been made, and I am sending the hon. Member details. The gross area of the land included in the scheme was 32.9 acres, and the rateable value of the properties was £7,570.

92. Mr. McGhee

asked the Minister of Health what has been the result of the negotiations of the Luton Rural District Council for the purchase of land for the sewage disposal works at Toddington; whether the amount asked by the owners was in excess of the amount the district valuer was prepared to recommend; what is the area and rateable value of this land; and, if terms have since been agreed upon, what is the price to be paid?

Sir K. Wood

Agreement has been reached for the purchase of this land for £200. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The area of the land is 3.1 acres, and being agricultural is derated.

93. Mr. McGhee

asked the Minister of Health what was the result of the arbitration in connection with the land adjacent to Alexander Park, Bath, zoned as an open space proposed to be acquired by the council; and whether, in stating the price awarded, he will say what is the area of this land and what was the value a t which it was assessed for local taxation?

Sir K. Wood

I have no information about the result of this arbitration, but I will make inquiries and inform the hon. Member.

96. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the borrowing powers needed by the Nottingham Corporation for the acquisition of land for the extension of the Middleton boulevard; what was the area and the price of the land in question; and what was its rateable value previous to purchase?

Sir K. Wood

I have sanctioned the borrowing by the corporation of £5,500, being the purchase price of approximately 16 acres of land for the benefit, improvement and development of the borough. The frontage of the land was required for the extension of Middleton boulevard. The land was agricultural, and, therefore, derated.

98. Mr. McGhee

asked the Minister of Health whether he has sanctioned the purchase of 91.4 acres of land at Barnet Lane, belonging to Incorporated Properties, Limited, by the Herts County Council, the Middlesex County Council, and the Barnet Urban District Council, the land being wanted for a regional open space; whether the London County Council has also been associated in this purchase; what is the total price paid and how much has each of the associated councils contributed; and whether he will state for what purposes the land was previously used, as well as the value at which it was assessed for local rates?

Sir K. Wood

I have sanctioned a loan for the purchase of the land in question by the Barnet Urban District Council. The purchase price is £43,000, towards which the Herts County Council have agreed to contribute £11,057. I understand that applications for contributions are being considered by the Middlesex County Council and by the London County Council. The land was agricultural and therefore derated. There are, however, three cottages on the land with, I understand, a total rateable value of £21.