§ Dr. Alan Glyn (Windsor and Maidenhead)I beg to present a petition which contains 700 names representing over three-quarters of the residents who live in the parish of Waltham St. Lawrence.
Your petitioners object to the construction of a service station at Warren Copse which would be located within the confirmed East Berkshire Green Belt, in the middle of the first piece of real countryside on the M4. The station would be only 400 yards from the conservation village of Shurlock Row.
On 2nd January 1973, the Under Secretary of State in a previous Administration gave an undertaking that the application for the service station should be withdrawn. How can the petitioners understand that this decision can be reversed by another Government only four years later?
The siting of the proposed station is not equidistant between the two existing stations at Heston and Membury, and this would probably mean yet another service station on the 36-mile stretch between Warren Copse and Membury.
785 In accordance with precedent, I ask the Clerk of the House to read the petition.
The Clerk of the House read the petition, which was as follows:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The Humble Petition of the residents of Shurlock Row and surrounding areas.Sheweth that the Minister is considering authorising the construction of a service station in the area of Warren Copse, within the green belt of the County of Berkshire, and your Petitioners object to the Minister's proposals which they believe would despoil the amenities of this green belt.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that Your Honourable House will take all steps to prevent the Minister from taking such action.And Your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will forever pray, etc.To lie upon the Table.