HC Deb 15 July 1971 vol 821 cc131-2W
34. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Minister of State for Defence why a 27 ft. high corrugated iron garage was erected by the Army close to the back of houses in Ashdene Drive, Belfast, thereby destroying the view, interfering with chimneys and television reception, and harming the amenities of the area ; and if he will have the garage moved to another site.

Mr. G. Johnson Smith

The garage was built by the Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association for Northern Ireland to house armoured vehicles of the North Irish Horse Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry Regiment. The position was chosen because a suitable access road, a concrete base and hardstandings already existed there. Although the Association is formally exempt from the requirement to obtain planning approval, this was in fact sought in accordance with normal arrangements from the Belfast City Planning Department, which offered no objection from a planning aspect to the erection of the garage on its present site. I do not propose to have the garage moved to another site

Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) if he will arrange for one of the Ministers in the Defence Department, when next in Belfast, to visit Ashdene Drive, to see the 27-feet high corrugated iron garage which has been erected by his Department, and the damage which it has done to the environment ;

(2) what was the total cost of the garage erected by the Army at the rear of houses in Ashdene Drive, Belfast ;

(3) what consultation the Army authorities had with the residents of Ashdene Drive, Belfast, before they erected a 27-feet high corrugated iron garage behind the houses of the residents in this area.

Mr. G. Johnson Smith

I do not consider it necessary for a Minister to visit Ashdene Drive. The cost of the garage erected by the TAVR Association was £7,300. The local residents were not consulted by the association.