§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement as to his policy towards the placing of new caravan sites (a) in areas of outstanding natural beauty, (b) in areas of great landscape value and (c) along the heritage coastline; and what advice 489W he has issued to the Camping and Caravanning Club with regard to consultations with local authorities before the issuing of licences in areas as above.
§ Mrs. RumboldNew caravan sites are subject to the requirements of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 which prohibits the issue of a licence unless the site has the benefit of planning permission. Schedule 1 to the Act, however, sets out circumstances in which a site licence is not required and there is no statutory requirement to consult the local planning authority in such cases. No specific advice has been given to the Camping and Caravanning Club on this subject.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the provisions of the Camping and Caravanning Act 1980 in the light of the granting of licences by the Camping and Caravanning Club without prior consultation with local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Camping and Caravanning Club is authorised by a certificate of exemption granted under paragraph 12 of schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, to approve sites for use by not more than five caravans at a time without the need for a site licence. This was reviewed in 1980 following a public consultation exercise, and the Government proposed that legislation should be introduced eventually to require exempted organisations to notify the local planning authority prior to approval of such sites.