§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD MOTTISTONEMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a public inquiry will be held before any departure from the Isle of Wight Development Plan is allowed to permit of the erection of a television mast and station for the Independent Television Authority in an area designated as being one of great landscape value.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, the Isle of Wight County Council have notified my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing that they propose to grant planning permission for 102 a mast and station on Chillerton Down. They have reached this conclusion after very thorough consideration of the circumstances. My right honourable friend has not yet taken a final decision, but his provisional view is that circumstances do not warrant his intervention.
§ LORD MOTTISTONEMy Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for his reply, may I ask him this supplementary question? Are Her Majesty's Government aware that a satisfactory alternative site is available outside the area designated as of great landscape value and, therefore, in a far less damaging situation, which I believe would be acceptable to the Independent Television Authority, if pressed?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, it is true that an alternative site at George's Down, which is south-east of Newport, has been considered, but it is regarded by the I.T.A. as very much inferior to the site where it is proposed to install this mast.