§ 56. Mr. Gibsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the proposed new British Broadcasting Corporation station at the Crystal Palace will be on land which is public open space; what consultations took 1248 place with the London County Council before the decision to build there was made; how many acres of land will be covered by the new station; and whether he will provide an equivalent area of open space to compensate for the land to be taken by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
§ Mr. GammansI am informed by the B.B.C. that their proposed new television station at Crystal Palace will not be on public open space, and the last part of the Question does not, therefore, arise. The London County Council are the owners of the land which the Corporation wishes to buy and negotiations between them are still in progress. The area of the site will not exceed two acres.
§ Mr. GibsonIs the Minister aware that about two years ago, this House passed an Act which handed over to the control of the London County Council the whole of the land of Crystal Palace, including the piece upon which the old palace stood, and which laid down that it must be used for public purposes as an open space, and that the original plans were for quite different buildings? Therefore, if there is to be a television station there—I am not objecting to the erection of the station—surely it is reasonable that the provision whereby local authorities must provide alternative open space if they take away public land ought to be applied in this case?
§ Mr. GammansPerhaps the hon. Member did not quite hear the first part of my answer. This station will not be on a public open space.
§ Mr. F. HarrisIs my hon. Friend aware that my constituents in the Crystal Palace area are very well pleased that the B.B.C. have decided to put this new station in the Crystal Palace area?