HL Deb 06 February 1990 vol 515 cc701-2

2.55 p.m.

Baroness Faithfull asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the planning permission process, due regard is given to the needs of the handicapped and the elderly; and, if so, why it is that the new Oxford railway station will be as inconvenient as the old, and Oxford bus station is inaccessible to taxis.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)

My Lords, developers are statutorily obliged to provide suitable access for disabled people to a wide range of buildings used by the public. Local authorities have a duty, when granting planning permission for such buildings, to draw attention to those statutory obligations. The problems mentioned in my noble friend's Question are matters for the local authority.

Baroness Faithfull

My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply, which I expected. However, does he agree that it is reprehensible that the central bus station in Oxford City, which was convenient albeit rather old, has been replaced by a new bus station with no access to taxis? People arriving on long-distance buses from London Airport and elsewhere in England cannot find a taxi when they arrive at the bus station. Surely that matter should have been dealt with at the early stages of planning. As the Minister will know, the old station at Oxford has been replaced by a new station ——

Noble Lords

Question!

Baroness Faithfull

——with no access for the elderly and handicapped other than a bridge and steps. Does he agree that that point should also have been dealt with, and that Network SouthEast should have taken note of the Department of Transport's advice?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I am sure that all noble Lords would be extremely upset if I came to the Dispatch Box and announced that Marsham Street intended to take over the local planning process. Those problems should have been resolved by the local planning authority. That is its duty, one which it was elected to undertake.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, although the Minister is in effect washing his hands of his responsibility and says that this matter is the responsibility of the local authority, will he say what monitoring steps the department takes to ensure that local authorities comply with the law? The thrust of the Question is the sad plight of the chronically sick and disabled. What steps have the Government taken to ensure that every local authority complies fully with its duty and responsibility to the chronically sick and disabled, many of whom are silent when it conies to making known their needs?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Graham, is no doubt well aware, Section 106 of the Transport Act 1985 lays down the criteria to answer his point. However, I should draw his attention to the fact that Wandsworth, a borough which is not often in his good books, supplied 90 per cent. of the cost at Clapham Junction of providing the answer requested by those who need better facilities at Oxford —an answer which has not been provided by a Socialist-led council.