§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Minister of Transport how many county councils have exercised the powers conferred on them by the Ribbon Development Act; and whether any steps will be taken to encourage other county councils to take advantage of the provisions of this Act?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHASection 2 of the Act, as my hon. Friend will be aware,268W is of automatic operation, with the result that within 220 feet from the middle of every classified road in the country it is no longer lawful, without consent, to construct, form or lay out any means of access or to erect or make any building. Thirty-four county councils have applied by resolution the same restrictions to 13,000 miles of unclassified roads, and 15 councils have adopted resolutions applying the more limited widths of Section I to 100 miles of road. In reply to the last part of the question, the answer is "everything possible."