Clause 45
Commons Bill [Lords]
2:15 pm
Dan Rogerson (Shadow Minister, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
I wish to speak to amendment No. 104, which is tabled in my name and those of my hon. Friends and the hon. Member for Stroud. In the same spirit as the hon. Gentleman’s amendments, this amendment is about the local authority taking action where land is not in the state that we would like to see. In many areas, the problem is that unclaimed land is used for purposes that are a nuisance to the local community. The landis not brought up to the standard that we wouldlike for environmental purposes, for maintaining archaeological features, or for ensuring that it is a useful amenity for the community and that it is used as it was originally intended. Our amendment seeks to ensure that a local authority would exercise powers in the absence of a commons association and take action, so that those issues could be resolved to the benefit of the local community and those who enjoy the land.