HC Deb 22 April 1947 vol 436 cc801-3
42. Mr. Gooch

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for the early removal of over 1,000 land mines still set in the cliffs between Mundesley and Sidestrand, Norfolk, pending which if he will enclose the whole area in which the mines are situated by an impenetrable fence.

Mr. Bellenger

Owing to the nature of the ground in which these mines were laid h would be highly dangerous to attempt to remove them. The area is fenced and danger notices are displayed. The local military authorities have been instructed to keep the fencing and notices under constant supervision and repair.

Mr. Gooch

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at an inquest on a man recently killed by a mine at the spot in question, it was stated that the cliffs between Mundesley and Sidestrand were bristling with sudden death, and will be give an assurance to those who want to spend a holiday there—and there are many people in the area who want to entertain them— that the entire coastline will be made safe?

Mr. Bellenger

I very much regret the death of the individual mentioned by my hon. Friend but I am afraid that to attempt to remove these mines which are laid in shifting soil would be highly dangerous to those who undertook that duty. I should be only too pleased to get them removed but I am afraid that I can do no more than guard the public as much as I can from them. I can hold out no hope of removing the mines.

Earl Winterton

Will the Minister resist the efforts which are being made in certain quarters to subject the Royal Engineers to quite unnecessary danger in removing mines which cannot be removed without danger to those Royal Engineers? Why should they risk their lives for the sake of holiday makers?

Mr. Medlicott

Is the Minister aware that a certain number of mines appear to have broken loose as a result of the action of the tides and that they are being found along other parts of the coast of Norfolk, and, while fully appreciating and sympathising with the point of view of the Royal Engineers, can my right hon. Friend give any help, because children are finding these mines quite regularly?

Mr. Bellenger

I do not think that there is so much danger from these mines breaking loose. If they do and we can tackle them, we will; but this particular area, I regret to say, must be fenced off from the public perhaps even permanently, because it is so highly dangerous to anybody who goes there, even including military personnel.

Earl Winterton

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an answer to my question? There is considerable perturbation in some quarters that the Army are being asked, for the sake of holiday makers, to risk their lives, and will the Minister give an assurance that the land at these dangerous places will be fenced off?

Mr. Bellenger

I have a duty to the public, of course, but I shall certainly not risk unnecessarily the lives of soldiers.

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