Open Spaces in Urban Areas (Hansard, 14 May 1996)

Lord Lucas
My Lords, the Government are committed to maintaining, enhancing and preserving open spaces in our towns and cities. We provide substantial planning and practice guidance, and 160 successful bids under the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund have included improved or reclaimed open space. In addition to the measures which the Government have taken, the Heritage Lottery Fund has launched an urban park programme.

§ Lord Renton
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that most encouraging Answer. Is he aware of two reasons why the policy which he has announced must be faithfully pursued? The first is that the drift of people from towns is one of the major threats to the countryside. The second is that recent research shows that many species of birds prefer to live in towns so long as the habitat there is suitable—of course, I refer to real birds.

Lord Lucas
My Lords, I entirely agree with my noble friend. I am sure he is aware that peregrine falcons, in particular, find living in towns agreeable to the point where citizens of Cardiff have taken to eliminating them because of the threat to racing pigeons. Towns are places for people to live in, and we must make them pleasant places to live in.

§ Lord Mason of Barnsley
My Lords, is the Minister aware that British Coal Enterprise, which has been privatised, was responsible for open spaces and recreational facilities in the coalfield communities? What assurances can he give that those will be maintained?

Lord Lucas
My Lords, those open spaces will be the responsibility of local councils and local people. I hope that they will continue the good work which British Coal started.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, have the Government given any thought to the future of Spring Common, which is in the Prime Minister's constituency of Huntingdon? Is he aware that the six acres of that haven for people and wildlife was saved from development only because the developer went bankrupt? Can he persuade the local Conservative council to heed the wishes of local people and stop development on that open space?

Lord Lucas
My Lords, I have to be careful about what I say about any particular site because my right honourable friend is the final "appeal court" on planning applications. I shall look into the particular site, about which I have no immediate knowledge, and write to the noble Baroness.

§ The Earl of Drogheda
My Lords, can the Government give some encouragement to councils to 388 look after allotment land in a better fashion? Such land is rarely properly guarded, and there is a great temptation for councils to try to reallocate allotment holders in order to sell the land for development purposes.

Lord Lucas
My Lords, while allotments are used well, they are an important part of the local community and should be regarded as such. I believe that they are protected under the planning guidance that we issue. Surely where allotments are no longer used it is right for the local council to try to find a better use.

§ The Earl of Drogheda
My Lords, it is easy to create a situation in which allotments are deemed to be used improperly or to be under-used. The allotments become vandalised as a result of the provision of insufficient security. Equally, councils do not always publicise the availability of allotments and therefore they say that there is no demand. I believe that—

Noble Lords
Question!

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, I am not sure whether the noble Earl asked a question, but I shall do so. The Minister spoke about certain steps which the Government have taken. Does he agree that local authorities which do not win what we regard as the lottery of the Single Regeneration Budget are left without any particular means of preserving open spaces in urban areas? Does he further agree that there is a need for legislation in respect of urban commons as opposed to rural commons? I believe that the Government have promised legislation on common land since 1987. Furthermore, can the Minister say what measures the Government have in their power to ensure that the Royal Parks in London are properly maintained?

Lord Lucas
My Lords, as regards the first question, the Single Regeneration Budget is for regeneration; but the ordinary maintenance of parks ought to fall within the councils' ordinary budget. The SRB exists for improvements, for regeneration and the creation of new facilities. As regards the noble Lord's other questions, I shall write in answer to him.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, what advice do the Government give to local authorities on the use of pesticides and weed killers on open land to which the public have access? Is he aware that in a recent court case relating to a young child who was sprayed with glyphosate the parents won about £10,000? Is he further aware that a number of children have been badly affected by the improper use of pesticides?

Lord Lucas
My Lords, I confess myself entirely at fault; I had not anticipated a supplementary question from the noble Countess. I should have done because usually I am asked a question. I am not aware of any particular regulations relating to spraying in parks which do not apply to the ordinary application of what in many circumstances are dangerous chemicals. However, I shall look into the matter and write to the noble Countess.

§ Lord Skelmersdale
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that since the Royal Parks became a next steps 389 agency, their maintenance has improved by leaps and bounds. That is particularly so in Regent's Park where, I believe, the eastern edge has been completely reconstituted to make a formal herbaceous border which is looking particularly fine at this moment. I saw it only 10 days ago.

Lord Lucas
My Lords, my noble friend has great expertise in those matters. I am sure that he is right. I wish that I had more time to enjoy the beauty of London parks than I do.

§ Lord Renton
My Lords, I appreciate that the Secretary of State for the Environment is the final court of appeal in planning cases, subject, of course, to judicial review. Will my noble friend take seriously what the noble Baroness, Lady Nicol, said so wisely about Spring Common, which is like a nature reserve and about which the people of Huntingdon are feeling very strongly because they do not want it developed.

Lord Lucas
My Lords, yes.

§ The Earl of Sandwich
My Lords, will the Minister accept that Vauxhall is a wonderful example of success regarding inner London spaces? However, South London deserves a greater priority. I have just walked through Vauxhall. To whom do we owe the beauty of the spaces of Vauxhall? Is it Lambeth Council in the 1970s or can the Government take some credit for that?

Lord Lucas
My Lords, far be it for me ever to try to take credit away from Lambeth Council.