HC Deb 13 April 1978 vol 947 cc494-9W
Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the annual cost of clearing derelict land in each of the metropolitan districts of Merseyside in each year since 1974;

(2) what was the annual cost of clearing derelict land in each of the metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester in each year since 1974;

(3) what was the annual cost of clearing derelict land in each of the district councils of Cheshire in each year since 1974;

(4) how much derelict land has been cleared in each of the district councils of Lancashire in each year since 1974.

Mr. Marks

Following is the expenditure by the county councils and district councils on derelict land reclamation in each of the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77. A break-down of county council

EXPENDITURE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES ON RECLAIMING DERELICT LAND
1974–75 1975–76 1976–77
£ £ £
GREATER MANCHESTER
Greater Manchester County Council 144,488 349,372 485,125
Bolton 107,083 65,000 46,178
Bury 83,000 164,840 33,246
Manchester 75,000 78,016 12,724
Oldham 158,625 311,790 177,763
Rochdale 115 66,391
Salford 47,000
Stockport 3,800 1,070
Tameside 89,938 10,000 39,604
Trafford
Wigan 73,407 108,898 266,154
MERSEYSIDE
Merseyside County Council 100 5,492 1,550
Knowsley 73,147
Liverpool
St. Helens 130,740 12,427 39,712
Sefton
Wirral
CHESHIRE
Cheshire County Council 21,700 294,938 204,417
Chester
Congleton 232,801 * *
Crewe and Nantwich 500
Ellesmere Port 26,163
Halton 36,570 * *
Macclesfield 23,991 10,000 523
Vale Royal 1,166 18,000 7,026
Warrington 11,250 62,000 155,598
LANCASHIRE
Lancashire County Council 81,027 97,535 274,782
Blackburn 88,337 76,021 29,498
Blackpool
Burnley 202,690 302,239 97,350
Chorley 214 800 8,000
Fylde
Hyndburn 8,227 7,052
Lancaster 912 4,812
Pendle 42,041 44,778 14,061
Preston
Ribble Valley
Rossendale 29,067
South Ribble
West Lancashire 2,430
Wyre
* Included in Cheshire County Council expenditure under agency arrangements.

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the annual cost of clearing derelict land in each of the district councils of Lancashire in each year since 1974;

(2) how much derelict land has been cleared in each of the district councils of Cheshire in each year since 1974;

expenditure by district areas is not readily available. Information for 1977–78 is not yet available.

(3) how much derelict land has been cleared in each of the metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester in each year since 1974;

(4) how much derelict land has been cleared in each of the metropolitan districts of Merseyside in each year since 1974.

Mr. Marks

Following are the amounts of derelict land reclaimed in each district by all agencies for 1974–75 and 1975–76. Corresponding information for 1976–77 and 1977–78 is not yet available.

DERELICT LAND RESTORED
1974–75 (hectares) 1975–76 (hectares)
GREATER MANCHESTER
Bolton 16.9 43.5
Bury 3.0 49.0
Manchester 15.9 27.6
Oldham 6.0 44.0
Rochdale Nil Nil
Salford 14.9 Nil
Stockport Nil Nil
Tameside 1.0 22.6
Trafford 4.8 Nil
Wigan 17.7 7.5
Greater Manchester Total 83.2 194.2
MERSEYSIDE
Knowsley Nil 17.3
Liverpool Nil Nil
St. Helens 2.4 0.5
Sefton Nil Nil
Wirral Nil Nil
Merseyside Total 2.4 17.8
CHESHIRE
Chester Nil 2.0
Congleton Nil Nil
Crewe and Nantwich Nil Nil
Ellesmere Port Nil Nil
Halton Nil 7.0
Macclesfield Nil 4.0
Vale Royal Nil 33.0
Warrington 2.0 5.0
Cheshire Total 2.0 51.0
LANCASHIRE
Blackburn 3.3 14.5
Blackpool Nil Nil
Burnley 7.4 23.4
Chorley Nil Nil
Fylde Nil 2.0
Hyndburn 6.0 5.0
Lancaster Nil Nil
Pendle 21.4 0.6
Preston Nil Nil
Ribble Valley Nil Nil
Rossendale 0.8 19.0
South Ribble Nil Nil
West Lancashire Nil Nil
Wyre 3.0 Nil
Lancashire Total 41.9 64.5

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the acreage of derelict land in each of the district councils in Lancashire; and how much of the land is in the ownership of each local authority;

(2) if he will list the acreage of derelict land in each of the district councils in Cheshire; and how much of the land is in the ownership of each local authority;

(3) if he will list the acreage of derelict land in each of the metropolitan districts in Merseyside; and how much of the land is in the ownership of each local authority;

(4) if he will list the acreage of derelict land in each of the metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester; and how much of the land is in the ownership of each local authority.

Mr. Marks

Local authority returns for the 1974 survey of derelict and despoiled land showed the following amounts of derelict land at 1st April 1974. The survey did not include information on ownership.

AREAS OF DERELICT LAND AT 1ST APRIL 1974
Hectares
GREATER MANCHESTER
Bolton 375
Bury 427
Manchester 279
Oldham 325
Rochdale 211
Salford 228
Stockport 215
Tameside 128
Trafford 172
Wigan 1,045
Greater Manchester Total 3,405

MERSEYSIDE

Knowsley 37
Liverpool 71
St. Helens 311
Sefton 40
Wirral 70
Merseyside Total 529

CHESHIRE

Chester 12
Congleton 106
Crewe and Nantwich 91
Ellesmere Port 24
Halton 190
Macclesfield 308
Vale Royal 435
Warrington 545
Cheshire Total 1,711

AREAS OF DERELICT LAND AT 1st APRIL 1974
LANCASHIRE Hectares
Blackburn 185
Blackpool 34
Burnley 183
Chorley 391
Fylde 65
Hyndburn 208
Lancaster 126
Pendle 96
Preston 20
Ribble Valley 80
Rossendale 509
South Ribble 62
West Lancashire 383
Wyre 28
Lancashire Total 2,370

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land remains to be cleared in the Warrington New Town Development Corporation area; and how much of the land is in the ownership of the development corporation.

Mr. Marks

I understand that about 195 hectares of derelict land remain to be cleared in the area of Warrington New Town. About 57.5 hectares are at present owned by the development corporation.

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land has been cleared by Warrington New Town Development Corporation; and what was the annual acreage and costs.

Mr. Marks

Warrington New Town Development Corporation has cleared 21.6 hectares of derelict land over the period February 1972-September 1975 at a total cost of about £1.6 million.