§ Mr. Derek Conway (Shrewsbury and Atcham)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to place upon the designated local authority, to which application for a waste disposal licence has been made, the duty to consult with any parish council or meeting (or community council or meeting in Wales) and persons residing in the neighbourhood in whose area the land concerned is situate.I confess that I had thought this morning would be a lonelier occasion. I suspect that the gladiatorial atmosphere which has continued from last night's debate may overshadow any public awareness which may have been created by this ten-minute Bill. Given the scenes that we have witnessed in the past 24 hours, I am particularly glad to tell the House that this Bill—the last of its type to come before Parliament this Session—has all-party support.In addition to the support of my hon. Friends, I place on record my thanks to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell), who sits in the Labour interest, the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile), who sits in the Liberal interest, and the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Wrigglesworth), who sits in the SDP interest, for adding their names to the Bill. I also thank the Community Rights Project for its help and advice in the preparation of this legislation.
The need for the Bill was brought to my attention by the parish council of Great and Little Ness in my constituency, where there is a particularly attractive village called Nesscliffe. It came to my attention that application had been made to Shropshire county council for a waste disposal licence to tip on a 10-acre area in that village.
Along with many other hon. Members, I assumed that legislation in the form of the planning Acts, the General Development Order and, indeed, the Control of Pollution Act 1974, would safeguard those who live in the village of Nesscliffe and in any other areas affected against such a proposal, and would ensure that they would be consulted. However, that is not the case, and, as the law stands, a county council is required to consult only the district council and water authority in its area.
It cannot be right that the first notice a member of the public has about a proposal to tip waste is when bulldozers appear in the field next door and start stripping off the top turf before tipping begins. Such proposals should be publicised so that those affected have an opportunity to raise objections and put forward alternatives.
I do not criticise Shropshire county council, which is an excellent local authority in my area, because it has followed the law as it stands. However, that law needs to be changed. This Bill, in seeking to amend the Control of Pollution Act, should not be controversial, in view of its all-party support. Those affected look to Parliament for protection. I urge hon. Members in all parts of the House to give me support in ensuring that that protection is extended.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Derek Conway, Mr. Alex Carlile, Mr. Ian Wrigglesworth, Mr. John Heddle, Mr. Robin Squire, Mrs. Virginia Bottomley, Mr. Geoffrey Dickens and Mr. Steve Norris.