§ Sir Anthony Grant (Cambridgeshire, South-West)I beg leave to present a petition signed by more than 2,000 of my constituents. The views that it contains are supported by many more of my constituents; local, district and county councillors; and me.
The petition concerns a wholly absurd proposal to build a new settlement in the heart of my constituency. I have twice explained the objections on the Floor of the House, once as long ago as six years. The petition reads:
The Petition of the Parishioners of twelve parishes around and including Bourne and Caxton in the county of Cambridgeshire—which may not be wholly unfamiliar to you, Madam Speaker—whose names and signatures are included herein declares that there is a substantial case against the application for planning consent to build a new town in the locality and for which there is no need. Particular attention is drawn to the state of the housing market and to the new lower housing need estimates published by the County Council as compared to those current at the time of the inquiry. Another material matter is the recently revised and lower status of the A45 west of Cambridge. The dualling of this road was identified by the inspector as a vital factor in site location. Further that the question of traffic generation through Bourn village has not been adequately addressed in the spirit suggested by the Minister in his decision letter. If built the new town would irreparably damage the environs of many local village communities. The Petitioners herein respectfully and earnestly request the House of Commons to call upon the Minister to give adequate direction to those charged with the consideration of the issues by firmly declaring that Government advice in the form of planning policy guidelines should be carefully consulted to take account of those matters where material and significant changes have occurred in the planning context since the public inquiry. Further that these changes are sufficient in themselves to justify the Minister calling in the competing applications and decide that circumstances having changed so dramatically since the inquiry there is no useful purpose to be served in pursuing the concept of a new settlement in this locality. The Petitioners herein remain your obedient servants and humbly wait upon the pleasure of the House.
§ To lie upon the Table.