§ Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what contribution will be paid by the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society towards the Amble Marshes drainage scheme; what acreage is occupied by this bird sanctuary; and what way it will be improved;
(2) if he will arrange with the river board concerned for the special charge to the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society for the Amble Marches drainage scheme to be substantially reduced, or remitted altogether, in view of the fact that the society did not ask for the scheme, and have few financial resources.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe question of a contribution by the society towards the cost of the scheme is a matter between the society and the river board and I understand that they have reached agreement on the amount. This would be a contribution, not a special charge. I understand that the society has about 47 acres and that the river board have made arrangements with the society for the drainage outfalls to discharge as the society wish. The scheme would make possible the agricultural improvement of the land if at any time the society so desired.
§ Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what objects, beneficial to the area concerned, he had in mind when approving the Amble Marshes drainage scheme in North Cornwall.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsAmong the benefits which my right hon. Friend considered were the improvement of land for agricultural purposes, the alleviation of the regular winter flooding of the roads serving the village of Chapel Amble and the flooding of several houses there, and the improvement in the sewage disposal from 33 houses involving 150 people. There would also be savings in other work on the river.
§ Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present average value of land to be improved by the Amble Marshes drainage scheme in North Cornwall; what is the total acreage involved; and what 230W is the cost per acre for carrying out the scheme.
§ Mr. Scott HopkinsThe scheme would benefit about 217 acres substantially and about 60 acres slightly. The present average value of the 217 acres is estimated to be £31 10s. 0d. per acre. No estimate has been made for the value of the 60 acres. The scheme is estimated to cost £23,290. Since the benefits are not limited to agricultural land but include the alleviation of flooding of roads and houses and improvements in sewage disposal, it is not possible to give a meaningful figure for the cost per acre.
§ Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many houses in the Village of Chapel Amble have been flooded in each of the last five years; and how often this occurred in each year.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI do not have this precise information, but I understand that four houses have been flooded on numerous occasions.
§ Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Government grant is payable towards the cost of carrying out the Amble Marshes drainage scheme; what cost will be borne by the county rate for Cornwall; and how much will be contributed by the beneficiaries.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe normal rate of grant for approved work by this board is 35 per cent. but an extra 15 per cent. is paid for tidal or sea defence works. The latter would account for about two-thirds of the total estimated cost (just over £23,000) of this scheme. I understand that the River Board expect the cost for the County of Cornwall to be about £3,900 and to obtain about £4,700 from beneficiaries.