§ Mr. SMITHERSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Bromley Rural District Council have approved a proposal by the developers of the Park Langley estate, West Wickham, for the scheduling of an area of the estate for the erection of shops; that the house owners and occupiers resident on the estate are, with the exception of a property builder, unanimous in their view that they do not require and do not want shops on the estate; that the proposal, if given effect to, will seriously depreciate the value of the dwelling houses on the estate, which were purchased in reliance on representations that the estate was to be purely residential; and whether he will give effect to the clearly expressed needs and wishes of the whole community affected by withholding approval of this part of the council's town-planning proposals?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am aware that the Bromley Council have given permission for the erection of some shops in the area in question, and of the objection raised by residents. This particular matter has not been investigated by me and I cannot express any opinion on it. The decision of the council, given no doubt after full consideration of the needs of the district as a whole, is final. I understand, however, that they have suggested to the developers that they should confer with a committee of the local protesting residents.