§ Mr. Percivalasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the threat to the beaches of Southport as well as the threat to the irreplaceable bird habitat and other wild life in the Ribble Estuary posed by the purchase of about 6,000 acres for development, he will make a direction under article 4 of the General Development Order, 1977, so that (a) all aspects of the matter may be investigated in public before any final decisions are reached and (b) development may thus be limited to such and only such development as can be carried out without danger to either of those interests.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettNo. He has, however, approved a direction under article 4 of the General Development Order submitted to him by West Lancashire district council in respect of the major part of this area. The direction brings under planning control development consisting of agricultural buildings, works and uses. This will enable the district council as the local planning authority to take account of interests the hon. and learned Member refers to.