Rivelin Valley, Sheffield (Planning Appeal)

HC Deb 03 March 1959 vol 601 cc186-7

24. Mr. Darling

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the cost to his Department of the inquiry into the appeal against the Sheffield Corporation's decision not to allow building developments in parts of the Rivelin Valley in Sheffield

Mr. Bevins

About £40.

Mr. Darling

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to look at the question of protecting the public from frivolous appeals such as this one? We must ensure that everyone has the right to make a legitimate appeal, but is he aware that, in this case, the solicitors must have known that every political party, every civic organisation and all the Government Departments concerned were utterly opposed to any idea of building development in this valley, and that any appeal was bound to be frivolous?

Mr. Bevins

That is a point of view, but applicants for planning permission do not always regard their own applications—or, indeed, their appeals—as frivolous. I think that it would be quite wrong for my right hon. Friend to use his powers in a case like this to try to fetter the effective right of appeal of the citizen.