HC Deb 18 May 1950 vol 475 cc1466-7
Colonel Clarke

I beg to move, in page 13, line 48, at the end, to insert: Provided that no such notice, post or board shall be affixed to any building or structure without the prior consent of the owner and occupier thereof. I do not think that this is an unreasonable request. The owners of land do their best to keep up its appearance, and if persons are able by statute to post notices on that land without their consent it does make much harder the task of keeping it tidy. I feel that as time goes on the owners of land are treated with less and less consideration, and in spite of that fact they have increasing responsibilities. I know that these notices will not be up for very long, only for a fortnight, so that it is not really a very big point. But it is a matter of courtesy and will not cause a lot of trouble to the local authority. Sometimes by liaison between the two the local authority may be helped.

For example, the owner may be able to indicate a more suitable place in which the notice might be posted than the one suggested. But to allow notices to be posted without the owner having any say in the matter is wrong. I do not think that consent would ever be unreasonably withheld, but there are occasions where a certain amount of give and take would be helpful. It might be possible to post the notice in a place where it would be equally visible to the public without being quite such a nuisance as it might be if it were put, for example, in front of the windows of a dwelling-house. The point is quite clear. It is not a major point, but one which might help to ease the position in the country-side and help to smooth the passage of this very reasonable Measure.

Mr. Barnes

We have no objection at all to the point mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member. However, we wish to make sure that this is the appropriate wording, and we should like to examine it before we accept it.

Colonel Clarke

I should like to thank the Minister for what he has said. Of course, it may be better to improve the wording, without changing the sense. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Schedule agreed to.

Bill reported, with Amendments; as amended, to be considered Tomorrow, and to be printed [Bill 28].