HC Deb 17 December 1946 vol 431 cc1759-61
44. Earl Winterton

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will inform the House what procedure was adopted by his Department to consult the local authorities who appeared to be concerned before making an order designating an area of land at Crawley for development as a new town.

87. Colonel Clarke

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what steps he took in conformity with Clause I of the New Towns Act, 1946, to consult with the local authorities concerned before choosing Crawley as the site of a satellite town.

The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Silkin)

The first formal consultation with the local authorities, who appeared to me to be concerned in the proposal for a new town at Crawley, took place in the Ministry on 10th July, when I met representatives of three county councils and three rural district councils. Further consultation took place at Crawley between some of my officers and representatives of the same six local authorities on 7th October, after the draft of the order designating the area had been published.

Colonel Clarke

May I ask the Minister whether he was able to lay before those authorities anything more than the barest outlines of the scheme, and also whether they welcomed them, or whether they pointed out the grave difficulties to do with water supply, great numbers of railway and road crossings, the presence of a trunk road, the sterilization of much agricultural land, and other things of that sort?

Mr. Silkin

I was able to put before the authorities the proposal to build a new town in their area, and all the authorities to whom I spoke welcomed the proposals and did not put before me the difficulties which the hon. and gallant Member now mentions.

Earl Winterton

As the right hon. Gentleman says that the authorities welcomed the proposals, would be tell the House why it was that, without exception, they all opposed them at the inquiry? Is he aware that, so far from welcoming the proposals, from all the information that is available, the authorities pointed out the utter impracticability of the scheme?

Mr. Silkin

Since I was present at the consultation and the noble Lord was not, I am in the better position to say, and they did welcome the proposals at the consultation.

Earl Winterton

As there is a difference of opinion between the local authorities and the right hon. Gentleman —I suppose he would not suggest that they are less truthful than he is—would he consider publishing the report of the consultation? There is a very serious difference of opinion as to what occurred.

Mr. Silkin

I am not aware that there is any difference of opinion, but I am perfectly willing to publish the report of the proceedings.

Mr. Derek Walker-Smith

Does the Minister realise that many hon Members of this House, whatever they may think of his particular answers, are very gratified that the Lord President has allowed him this one little ewe lamb by way of an oral answer and hope that he may one day achieve another?

Mr. Silkin

I have a great many more ewe lambs following on the Paper if I am allowed to answer them.

Colonel Clarke

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has not answered one part of my supplementary question. It was, whether he had been able to lay before the authorities anything more than the barest outline of the scheme?

Mr. Silkin

I put before the authorities the proposal to build a new town in their area, and I gave them an indication of the area that would be covered.