§ Sir David Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the Post Office intends to erect a telephone exchange in a large modern building to be built in the centre of Kimbolton, which is designated as a conservation area; and whether he will call in the planning application with a view to preventing this damage to the beauty of a well preserved village, nearly all the houses in the centre of which are seventeenth and eighteenth century.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettI understand that no planning application has yet been made but that the Post Office may shortly be putting some proposals to the local planning authority, the Huntingdon District Council, for informal discussion. I would expect that in any such discussions, and also in respect of any planning application that may subsequently be made, the council will have regard to the purpose of the conservation area as well as to the requirements of the Post Office. As things stand I have no reason to think it likely that I shall need to call in a planning application if one is made.