HC Deb 09 March 1999 vol 327 cc171-2
15. Mr. David Watts (St. Helens, North)

If he will enable councils to make the final decisions on planning applications for landfill sites. [73427]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Nick Raynsford)

Final decisions on all planning applications are made by local planning authorities, except for those that are called in by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for his decision, or those referred to him on appeal.

Mr. Watts

I thank the Minister, but may I draw it to his attention that he recently approved a planning application for a landfill site next to residential properties in Haydock? The residents believe that decisions on such matters should rest with the local council. Will my hon. Friend reconsider his decision not to allow the final decision to be taken by the local authority?

Mr. Raynsford

No. I understand my hon. Friend's concern about the case that he raised, but it is a fundamental principle of quasi-judicial procedures such as planning matters that they should be subject to a right of appeal. I have looked into the detail of my hon. Friend's case, and I have written to him about it. I am quite satisfied that the inspector considered all matters properly and reached a proper decision, on the basis of which the appeal was allowed. It would not be right to overturn that decision.

Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset)

Does the Minister agree that one of our problems is that people who create domestic waste are having to export it to other areas? Local authorities must be responsible for burying their own waste if that is how they wish to deal with it. Unless the Government take strict action, they will find that areas such as London will ship their waste to Dorset, and we should rather London kept it to itself.

Mr. Raynsford

The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point about the growing difficulties encountered in seeking sites for landfill. It is desirable to consider alternative ways of disposing of waste, and it is right that we should give more emphasis to recycling and other more environmentally sustainable means of disposal.