§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communication he has sent to Colchester Council regarding the preservation of their Assembly Room; whether he is satisfied that his present powers are adequate to ensure the preservation of historic and architecturally fine buildings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacDermotThe Assembly Room of the Cups Hotel was on the supplementary list of buildings of architectural or historic interest, and it was intended to include it on the statutory list on a further revision.
In 1966 the Colchester Borough Council, as owners of the site, proposed an office extension which would have involved demolishing the Room and they were asked on 29th June, 1966, to try to incorporate the Room in any new scheme.
Nothing further was heard until the Essex County Council as local planning authority, informed the Department on 29th January last that they were about to approve a scheme for an automatic telephone exchange and commercial development which would involve demolishing the Room.
Officers of the Department urged on all concerned, both by letter and at a meeting, that every effort should be made to retain the Room in the new development. However, on 6th March the Colchester 36W Borough Council decided to demolish the Room immediately, as they were able to do, since the building was not yet listed.
My right hon. Friend is in general satisfied that his powers to secure preservation are adequate, but as the hon. Member will be aware there are provisions to strengthen the law in the Town and Country Planning Bill now before Parliament.