Clause 2 - Regional planning bodies
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill
5:00 pm
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet, Conservative)
I am grateful for the tone and tenor of the Minister's reply. I appreciate it very much, but should like to make two quick points.
First, my hon. Friend the Member for Cotswold is on to something with his point about the boundaries of the marine areas, mentioning the Southampton and New Forest area. That could be crucial. Secondly, I understand that the powers of the local authority or, in this case, regional planning authority go only—I can never remember exactly the right phrase—to the mean water level of low or high tide. I think that the Crown owns the beaches and shores. Perhaps that is a technical problem, but it is a legal one. There may be slightly more impetus behind the amendments that the RSPB have requested because of those legal factors.
I am grateful to the Minister for promising to look into the matter and keep the Committee informed. With the safeguard of discussion on Report still to come, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Further consideration adjourned.—[Dan Norris.]
Adjourned accordingly at two minutes past Five o'clock till Tuesday 14 January at five minutes to Nine o'clock.