§ Mr. CasaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take following the court's decision in the Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club case. [133615]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy Department has today issued a consultation paper inviting views on whether to introduce controls over the demolition of sports buildings. The paper proposes that a planning application should in future be required for the demolition of buildings used for sporting purposes and for essential ancillary purposes, where no planning permission exists for the redevelopment of the site.
The proposals issued today are designed to safeguard local sports facilities. This small but important measure further underlines the Government's commitment to creating sporting opportunities for everyone, as set out in our sports strategy "A Sporting Future for All", which was issued jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Employment in April 2000.
The consultation paper is being sent to a wide range of planning and sports bodies. Comments are requested by 27 October 2000. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library.