HC Deb 08 March 1945 vol 408 cc2212-4
35. Mr. Douglas

asked the Minister of Health whether he has confirmed a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition by the Keighley Town Council of 86¼ acres of land at Bracken Bank for housing purposes; for what reason the effort to purchase by agreement failed; what award the arbitrator has given; and what is the value at which the land was assessed for local taxation.

Mr. Willink

No, Sir. The Keighley Town Council purchased this site at the agreed price of £14,500, and the second and third parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise. As regards the last part, the land is agricultural and therefore derated.

36. Mr. Douglas

asked the Minister of Health why he informed the Huntingdon Town Council that it would be better to employ friendly arbitration rather than resort to a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of a housing site; where is the land in question; what is its area and rateable value; and whether the council approached the owners asking them to agree to arbitration and with what result.

Mr. Willink

There appears to be some misunderstanding. The council were not advised in the sense suggested, and a compulsory purchase order was in fact made and was confirmed last December. The land, which is about seven acres in area, is at Ambury Hill, Huntingdon, and is derated.

37. Mr. Douglas

asked the Minister of Health whether the Leeds City Council has confirmed a recommendation by its improvements committee for the purchase of land on the Golden Acre Park Estate, adjacent to the Leeds-Otley Road for a sum of £18,500; what area of land is involved and what is its rateable value.

Mr. Willink

I understand that the City Council have confirmed the recommendation in question. The area involved is 146 acres. Only part of the estate is being purchased and I regret that the figure of rateable value is not therefore available.

42. Sir John Graham Kerr

asked the Minister of Health why he has granted compulsory powers for the acquisition of some of the best agricultural land in the parish of Barley for housing purposes, in preference to other available sites of less agricultural value.

Mr. Willink

Before the compulsory purchase order was made it was ascertained, in accordance with the procedure agreed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and myself, that the Ministry of Agriculture did not feel justified in objecting on agricultural grounds to the use of the land for housing.