§ 60. Sir Arnold Gridleyasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that notice boards have recently been erected on land immediately adjacent to the Watford by-pass road, northern half, offering such land for sale for the erection of factories and houses; and whether he will take immediate steps to discourage any further ribbon development on this highway?
§ Mr. BurginI am aware of the notice boards. The Hertfordshire County Council are the highway authority for the road in question, and I have no doubt that they will exercise their powers under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act, 1935, to prevent any undesirable development of the land in question.
§ Mr. CrowderIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many notice boards which have lately appeared on the road between Staines and the Great West Road, and will he look into them as well?
§ 63. Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Transport whether he can make any statement on the action taken by county councils in England to prevent ribbon development, either by purchasing the frontages themselves or by sterilising them for building purposes?
§ Mr. BurginI have received particulars of one purchase of land for the purpose mentioned, by the Oxfordshire County Council of 90 acres fronting on to the Kidlington-Oxford Road (A.423). As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 17th November.
§ Mr. PalingIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this Act is being operated, and does not this one case indicate that it is not being made use of? If that is so, what steps is he taking to put it into operation?
§ Mr. BurkeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the price of land fronting these roads is so prohibitive as to make the Act ineffective?
§ Mr. BurginHon. Members will understand that under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Act it is for the local highway authority to make the move in this matter. It is a matter of local discretion but perhaps the publicity given to this question will assist more local authorities to use their discretionary powers.
§ Mr. PalingIf there has been so little action is it not obvious that there is some obstacle in the way, and has the Minister considered what it is?
§ Mr. BurkeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that after the local authority has used all its powers, it ultimately comes down to purchase, and that the price of land is so prohibitive that the authority cannot face the purchase, and therefore the Act becomes ineffective.