§ Mr. Harry Lamborn (Peckham)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House. I begleave to present a petition on behalf of the London borough of Southwark. This petition expresses concern at the Government's proposals to take redevelopment of London dockland out of the control of the democratically elected local authorities.
The petition is cast in the following terms:
To the honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.
The humble petition of The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Southwark.
Your petitioners are the local planning authority for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 of the areas of the London Dockland within the Borough boundaries and are the freehold owners of a substantial part of the area of the said Dockland known as Surrey Docks.
Your petitioners' Council did on the 5th day of December pass the following resolution: —
This Council
TAKES NOTE of the expenditure already undertaken by the five Dockland Boroughs on the infrastructure and site preparation in Docklands.
WELCOMES the development currently in progress in the area.
DEPLORES the undemocratic proposal of Her Majesty's Government to establish an Urban Development Corporation.
CONSIDERS that this proposal will impose delay and confusion and will inhibit both public and private development.
INVITES Her Majesty's Government to participate in the progress of dockland 796 developing by joining with the Docklands Joint Committee in a genuine partnership.
Therefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House will not pass any legislation to be laid before you which would create an Urban Development Corporation or any other statutory body which would exercise within London Docklands any powers at present exercised by your petitioners as local planning authority or otherwise.
Wherefore your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray etc.
The petition is signed by the chief executive and town clerk of the authority and bears the common seal of the mayor, mayoress and burgesses of the London borough of Southwark.
I beg leave to present the petition.
§ To lie upon the Table.