§ 21. Sir R. Grimstonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that work on the projected cement works at Westbury is being held up owing to the demand for a further public enquiry into this project which has already been approved in principle; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe planning permissions given in 1947 and 1948 were subject to conditions requiring further approvals to be obtained before erection of the works, including approval of the detailed building plans. These were not submitted until March this year. Wiltshire County Council, which as local planning authority was asked for its views on these plans, takes the view that the development now contemplated goes beyond the permissions already given, and has asked for an inquiry into the whole matter. This raises various preliminary issues which I am considering in the light of representations from the parties.
§ Sir R. GrimstonIt would appear from that Answer that my hon. Friend is not entirely correctly informed. Is he aware that the Westbury Urban District Council, within whose confines this cement works will be, entirely approves the new project? Incidemtally, it will double the output of the works with works half the size. The water problem has been overcome. This appears to be an effort on the part of those who never wanted the cement works to raise the whole issue again.
Finally, having regard to the national interest in this matter, with the country crying out for cement, will my hon. Friend do what he can to expedite 863 matters, as there have already been two local inquiries?
§ Sir K. JosephYes, but my right hon. Friend has had local representations against this project. It has been represented to him that the scale of the project is so different from what it was when planning permission was given that a new application is necessary. It is these representations which my right hon. Friend is considering.