§ 17. Sir T. Beamishasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the objections of the East Sussex County Council and the Lewes Borough Council to the joint proposal of the Railways Board and the National Coal Board to establish a large coal concentration depôt in Lewes, he will give an assurance that he will only grant planning permission if both authorities agree or after there has been a public inquiry.
§ Mr. MacCollThe Railways Board are statutory undertakers and could probably carry out this development on railway land without specific planning 1332 permission. I am informed, however that the Board have not finally decided on this particular site and are considering the possibilities of an alternative.
§ Sir T. BeamishWhile not questioning the need for a coal concentration depôt in the general neighbourhood, or even that Lewes might make sense geographically, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that there are so many serious snags attaching to this proposal, which is hotly opposed by all the local authorities concerned, that the only thing to say is, "Please think again"?
§ Mr. MacCollThat is precisely what, I think, the Railways Board are doing. They have not taken a final decision and I understand that they are continuing their discussions with the local authorities.