§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce his decision on the Pembrokeshire coast national park variation order submitted to him by the Countryside Commission. [41354]
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§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has today confirmed, with modifications, the order to vary the boundaries of the Pembrokeshire coast national park.
In 1989, the Countryside Commission, predecessors of the Countryside Council for Wales, submitted an order to the Secretary of State recommending that the boundary of the national park should be revised at 23 sites. It was proposed that at 15 sites land would be added to the park and at eight sites land would be removed.
The modifications made to the order following a public inquiry mean that 10 new ares will be added to the national park including land at Pencelly Forest, Castlemartin and Brandy Brook valley and its tributaries. Seven areas of land will be removed, including the Texaco and Elf refineries. At six sites, including Marros and Gelliswick bay, the existing boundary will remain.
Copies of the decision letter to the chief executive of the Countryside Council for Wales and the inspector's report have been placed in the Library of the House.