§ Mr. Edgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold consultations with the West Midlands County Council and the Walsall Borough Council with the view to achieving an agreed policy for the preservation of the interim green belt extending between Aldridge and Walsall.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettPolicies for the preservation of areas of green belt are matters for inclusion in structure plans prepared by the county councils in consultation with the district councils and approved by the Secretary of State. In 1975 the Secretary of State directed that green belt submissions which were, or might be, contentious should be approved as interim green belt only until firm decisions could be taken in the new structure and local plans. It is hoped that the appropriate structure plan covering Aldridge and Walsall will be approved in the near future.
The final definition of green belt boundaries is for the local planning authorities in the preparation of their local plans. An early submission of local plans is expected once the structure plan has been approved.