§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consideration he gave to the question of future public access when he declined to approve the purchase of 10 square miles of moorland on the eastern side of the Peak district national park by the Peak planning board from the Severn-Trent water authority; and if he will make a statement.
(2) why he refused to approve the purchase of 10 square miles of moorland on the eastern edge of the Peak district national park by the Peak planning board from the Severn-Trent water authority.
§ Mr. WaldegraveImprovement in public access was one of the factors considered in assessing the merits of the proposed purchase. However, the proposed sale price of the land was significantly below market value and, in the Government's view, the shortfall in revenue to the Severn-Trent water authority could not be justified. A further consideration was the wish of local tenant farmers to purchase those areas of the moors which they are farming.