HC Deb 26 June 1956 vol 555 cc239-40
11. Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take with the British Broadcasting Corporation for again ignoring the planning authority by erecting a square brick building at Rundle-stone in the Dartmoor National Park to house a pump for boosting water to the television station in North Hessary Tor; and to what extent his previous stipulation that all buildings connected with the station should be of local stone remains in force.

Mr. Powell

This is a matter for the planning authority, which I understand is in touch with the B.B.C. about it. The last part of the Question is based on a misapprehension.

Mr. Hayman

Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform the B.B.C. that it is not above the law and should consult the planning authority before putting up a building of this kind instead of the planning authority having to get into touch with the B.B.C. afterwards?

Mr. Powell

But this is a matter for the Dartmoor National Park Committee, which is a committee of the planning authority.

Sir H. Studholme

Whilst regretting that the B.B.C. should have trodden on the toes of the planning authority, may I ask my hon. Friend if he would suggest a coat of roughcast on this brick building, because then it would fit in quite nicely with the landscape and would harmonise with the other rough-cast buildings in the neighbourhood, which I suggest the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Hayman) has never noticed because it is at least 70 miles from his constituency?

Mr. Powell

The planning decision to which the Question refers does not impose requirements of a particular material, but only that the material should be agreed with the local planning authority.