§ Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now decided where the hypermarket should be sited in Bellshill; and if he will make a statement about the effect of his decision on the Bellshill Town Map.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellA number of applications have been made for planning permission to develop large-scale retail shopping centres in the Bellshill area, including four for development within the area covered by the Town Map. Because of their regional significance I have called in all the applications in the Bellshill area for decision by myself and am now making arrangements for a public local inquiry.
The decision whether or not to allow such a development in the area could have a bearing on the Bellshill Town Map proposals which have already been the subject of a public inquiry. I have recently received the report on that inquiry and will announce as soon as possible a decision on the Town Map proposals so far as they are not affected by the new large-scale shopping proposals.