§ Mr. Bernard Jenkin (Colchester, North)It is my honour and duty to present a petition from the parishioners of Elmstead Market. It concerns a gipsy site that is proposed for Grove arm, Elmstead Market, by Essex county council. It is contrary to the local plan, and will encourage development, waste agricultural land and pose a risk to historic woodland; it should not be proceeded with without the public inquiry to which the petition refers.
Out of an electorate of 1,353, 997 people—73.5 per cent.—have signed the petition, and 94.4 per cent. of those have supported it; only 59 of those asked to sign it declined. It has the strong support of all the residents of Elmstead.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons should ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to establish a full public enquiry as soon as a planning application has been made.
§ To lie upon the Table.