HC Deb 08 December 1975 vol 902 cc26-7W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the leaders of the Liverpool City Council and the leaders of the Sefton District Council concerning the future of the Grand National.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether it remains Government policy that any applications for the major racecourses of the United Kingdom, including Aintree, will be called in for determination by him;

(2) whether the principle of the plan announced by the Minister of Sport in 1968 to ensure the future Aintree race course as a joint racing and community recreational venue based upon partner ship between local authorities, the Sports Council and the Horserace Betting Levy Board, still remains the Government's objective;

(3) what financial constraints apply to the purchase of Aintree racecourse by local authorities or other public bodies; and how such a transaction would be affected by the provisions of the Community Land Act.

Mr. Denis Howell

My right hon. Friend adheres to the statement announced in 1965 that he would call in for his own decision any application for planning permission which local authorities were minded to approve for development of Aintree and other major race courses for non-recreational purposes. I am not aware that any such application has been made with regard to Aintree. My hope is still that Aintree may be developed to provide recreational facilities for Merseyside people as well as horseracing, based on a partnership between the local authorities, the Sports Council and the Horserace Betting Levy Board. I made these views clear to the local authority representatives whom I met last week. Government approval would be required for permission to borrow money for the purchase of the racecourse by the local authorities. The basis of any such purchase by public bodies would be the district valuer's assessment of current market value. As such acquisition would not be for private development it would not fall within the new key sector for the common land scheme. Subject to the availability of funds, adequate powers already exist for local authorities to buy the land.