HC Deb 20 April 1983 vol 41 cc276-7
8. Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances the disposal of surplus land by British Rail requires his authority.

The Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Reginald Eyre)

There is no statutory requirement for the British Railways Board to seek my right hon. Friend's authority to dispose of surplus land, although it notifies us before disposing of surplus track formation under a 1974 non-statutory arrangement.

Mr. Parry

When the Minister or the Secretary of State next meets the chairman of British Rail, will he discuss with him land that is owned by British Rail that could be used for development and result in the creation of jobs, particularly in areas such as Merseyside, where we meet local red tape and bureaucracy? Will he also discuss land in residential areas owned by British Rail which is used for dumping and tipping?

Mr. Eyre

I note the hon. Gentleman's second point. I am grateful to him for raising this subject. It is important, particularly in large cities such as Liverpool. Some 149 acres of unused or underused land in Liverpool are now registered. That evidence is available, so potential developers can gain from the information.

Mr. Higgins

Will my hon. Friend encourage British Rail to get rid of surplus land so that it can be used for building, particularly in city areas, rather than have more of the countryside used for housing accommodation? Will he also consider whether the board should examine whether it can build over the top of railways to a greater extent than at present in city areas?

Mr. Eyre

I have much sympathy with my right hon. Friend's point. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently visited one of the London terminals and surveyed the programme for the development of the 15 London terminals. What my right hon. Friend says about development is relevant to those considerations.

Mr. Michael Martin

Is the Minister aware that in my constituency there are several disused railway lines and that British Rail is guilty of failing to fence off that property safely? I fear that children can easily walk on to those disused railway lines and fall into railway cuttings. Is he further aware that I have received several complaints that car thieves take cars to such railway cuttings, using the cuttings as a dumping ground? Will he ask British Rail to do something about that?

Mr. Eyre

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I shall raise all of those matters with British Rail. He is right to draw attention to the problems of fencing. They are sometimes an obstacle to the disposal of a site because such fencing obligations must be imposed on the purchaser.

Mr. Jessel

Will my hon. Friend ask British Rail not to dispose of surplus land in a way that damages the quality of life of those who live nearby? Is he aware that British Rail wants to put a container depot on the site of Feltham marshalling yard, which is on the fringe of my constituency, with the result that heavy lorries would be travelling through residential roads in Whitton?

Mr. Eyre

I understand the sensitivity of the points that my hon. Friend has raised. They are taken into account in the planning process when the application for development is considered.