§ Mr. Michael Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce his decision regarding the establishment of a new town in the Llantrisant area.
202Wboards and the deficiency precepts in each county district are shown below together with the rates to be levied by the Welsh National Water Development Authority in 1974–75.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI have today informed the objectors to the draft designation order and other interested parties that I have decided not to proceed with the proposed new town. In coming to this decision I have taken into account the many representations regarding the proposal and the recommendations of the Inspector who conducted the public inquiry.
The decision letter, copies of which I have sent to my hon. Friend and the right hon. and hon. Members concerned, makes it clear that in my view the Llantrisant area, although it is not to be developed under the New Towns Act, has considerable potential for further growth and will continue to prove to be an attractive and much sought after location for residential and other development. In order to ensure that the inevitable natural growth of the Llantrisant area proceeds coherently I have asked the local planning authority 203W to prepare urgently an interim local plan for the area.
I have decided not to accept the Inspector's suggestion that consideration should be given to a full re-examination of the proposal by its inclusion in the terms of a regional study. I consider that the regional strategies which are being followed by my Department are not materially affected by my decision and that any other necessary studies or changes in emphasis can be contained within the procedures and powers of the local planning authorities in preparing their structure plans.