§ 22. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction to the Central Electricity Generating Board that there should be full consultation with the local authorities and other interests concerned before the siting of pylons and the routes of power lines are determined, and that various alternative routes should be considered with a view to the choice of those routes which will cause least hardship and inconvenience to the public, before the Board's wayleave officers call on householders to inform them of impending disturbance.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeNo, Sir. The Board does carry out out extensive consultations with local authorities and others, and is well aware of the need for arriving, as far as possible, at generally acceptable routes.
§ Mr. DribergHas my right hon. Friend considered the case I sent him in which a number of my constituents were threatened with severe disturbance, but worked out an alternative route for themselves which the Board ultimately said was better than the original proposal? Whilst we are very glad that the Board accepted the alternative route, would it not have been possible for its experts to have worked it out in advance, without causing all that anxiety and delay?
§ Mr. LeeIn the case to which my hon. Friend refers, I understand that the Board originally proposed the route of an existing line, which the local authorities approved. Later, the Board agreed with the local authorities and the other interests affected by the change of route the alternative suggested by my hon. Friend's constituents. I should have thought that the case itself showed that the Board was always willing to investigate any reasonable alternative to meet the wishes and convenience of local householders.