§ 12. Brigadier Prior-Palmerasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how soon a decision will be arrived at in regard to the development plan for the Shoreham and Lancingbeaches.
§ The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Silkin)I hope to give a decision to the local planning authority within the next three weeks.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerIs the Minister aware that the county council's proposals were drawn up within four months of the scheme being suggested, since when the matter has hung fire for practically a year, and does he not consider that deplorable in view of the state of mind of the residents in this particular area?
§ Mr. SilkinThis is a very complicated proposal. There were 70 objectors at the public inquiry, including a number of important local authorities. The matter 176 Statistics in respect of the examinations held since entry to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, was opened in December, 1946, are as follow:
is very controversial and a certain amount of time is inevitably taken up in going into the various objections raised.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerIs there any truth in the suggestion that the file was lost between the right hon. Gentleman's Department and the Ministry of Health for something like seven months?
§ *See Columns 1329 and 1330.
§ Earl WintertonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my constituents, like those of my hon. and gallant Friend, are disturbed at the delay and that there seems to be some mystery about the matter? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what the mystery is, and why he has taken so long to come to a decision?
§ Mr. SilkinI have not taken up all the time; the local authority has taken up a good deal of it. The right hon. Gentleman's own constituency is against the proposal; it is one of the objectors. I have now promised to give a decision within three weeks.