HC Deb 11 July 1957 vol 573 cc69-70W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an out-line of the procedure laid down in his Regulations which those who are disturbed about the possible treatment of the surround to St. Paul's Cathedral must take to ensure that their views are fully considered at the coming public inquiry.

Mr. H. Brooke

The procedure to be adopted at the public local inquiry into the proposed amendment to the Administrative County of London Development Plan so far as it relates to the area immediately around St. Paul's Cathedral will be that defined in Circular No. 95 issued by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning to all local planning authorities in England and Wales on 23rd September, 1950. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

This procedure comprises three main stages, as follows:—

  1. (a) An opening statement by the local planing authority's representative, followed by evidence in support of their proposed amendment.
  2. (b) Presentation of the objectors' cases.
  3. (c) Final review by the authority's representative of the questions discussed at the inquiry.

It is open to the objectors to present their cases in whatever way they think best.

Objectors were invited, in notices published in the London Gazette and the City Press, to submit any objections in writing to me by 11th June. It is clearly desirable that the authorities concerned should have ample opportunity to give proper consideration to an objection on a matter of such general interest. If however, an objector appears at an inquiry without having lodged written notice, the inspector holding the inquiry can usually arrange for the objector to put his case after the formal objections have been heard.

Sir A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will exhibit the model of the alternative scheme for the area around St. Paul's which was considered by the Royal Fine Art Commission in October. 1956; and whether he will make available a model of Sir William Holford's scheme at the same time for purposes of comparison in the House of Commons or some other readily accessible place and before the opening of the public inquiry.

Mr. H. Brooke

The model of Sir William Holford's scheme for the St. Paul's area has been exhibited both at Guildhall and in the House of Commons and will be further exhibited at the public inquiry which opens at Gresham College on Monday next. The other model referred to by my hon. Friend illustrates certain ideas which among many others were suggested to my predecessor: but I do not propose to put on exhibition that or any other model or plan which at some stage has been under consideration. All persons or bodies who wish to give evidence at the public inquiry will have opportunity to put forward and exhibit whatever scheme they themselves favour.