§ 17. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Portsmouth City Council concerning the proposals by the special working party established by his Department to site a strategic lorry park at Tipner in Portsmouth; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeytonThe council has made no representations; it has, however, decided against building the link road from which it had been planned to obtain access to the projected lorry park. Further consideration is now being given to the lorry park proposal.
§ Mr. JuddIn view of the total opposition of the local community and the firm opposition of an all-party majority on the city council, does not the Minister now appreciate that he could alleviate any unnecessary anxiety and distress by immediately making it absolutely plain that the Government have no intention of going ahead with this strategic lorry park on an already overcrowded Portsea Island unless the Ministry of Defence is prepared to release the Tipner firing range for this purpose?
§ Mr. PeytonThe proposal is now under consideration. One of the difficulties about lorry parks is that although everyone wants them and thinks that in principle they are a good idea, when one fixes a particular site there are many objections.