HC Deb 13 January 1971 vol 809 cc67-8W
56. Mr. Iremonger

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his attention has been drawn by the Redbridge Borough Council to its decision to grant planning permission for a school for maladjusted children in the grounds of the William Torbitt School, Ilford; and if he will call in the application and order a public inquiry so that the objections of the William Torbitt Parents and Residents Association, of which he has had a statement from the hon. Member for Ilford, North, can be ventilated and considered.

Mr. Graham Page

The proposal which raised issues of an essentially local nature was referred to the Department last November by the Redbridge Borough Council. Since the site was already allocated for education purposes in the existing development plan the council were informed that my right hon. Friend would not wish to intervene. My right hon. Friend has since considered the statement of objections by the William Torbitt Parents and Residents Association which the hon. Member forwarded but he is still of the view that a local matter of this kind should be left to the local authority to decide.