§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations govern the installation of cable television lines above ground in(a) national parks, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty, (c) areas of great landscape value and (d) conservation areas.
§ Mr. MoynihanOperators of local broad band cable systems are licensed by the Department of Trade and Industry and benefit from the permitted development rights set out in Part 24 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988. In addition, their licences restrict the manner and circumstances in which different forms of development may be undertaken. These conditions relate in particular to the placing of overhead wires and poles, and help provide for the protection of particularly sensitive areas such as national parks, AONBs, conservation areas etc. by requiring consultation with or the agreement of local planning authorities and others before apparatus is installed.