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Commons Bill [Lords]

I support the principle of the Bill, but I should like my hon. Friend to clarify one aspect of the registration of town greens. In two cases in my constituency—in Fairfield, where planning permission exists for some social housing, and in New Mills, where planning permission exists for a magistrates court—applications for town green status have been lodged after the granting of planning permission. Clearly the purpose is not to respect and preserve the sites, but to frustrate a planning application. In both cases the development has already been delayed by several years, with no end in sight. I hope my hon. Friend can assure me that the Bill will clarify the position, and will make it less easy for town green applications to be used maliciously to frustrate the legitimate planning process.