Adjournment debate on View Lane park, Stanley.

Adjournment debate on View Lane park, Stanley.

I shall just finish this point before I give way to my hon. Friend. I know that he is eager to intervene on me. The information that has been given to the Government office is that Sport England made no objection to the proposals. Furthermore, the council has exceeded the...

I shall just finish this point before I give way to my hon. Friend. I know that he is eager to intervene on me. The information that has been given to the Government office is that Sport England made no objection to the proposals. Furthermore, the council has exceeded the...

Sport England did complain; and, in support of the argument that there was sufficient open space in the area, the council put forward the example of King’s Head field, but it clearly did not tell the Government office that it had already designated that area for development, either for sale...

Sport England did complain; and, in support of the argument that there was sufficient open space in the area, the council put forward the example of King’s Head field, but it clearly did not tell the Government office that it had already designated that area for development, either for sale...

My hon. Friend shakes his head, but that information was given to the Department and to the Government office. I am sure that he will understand that I am unable to discuss specific planning cases and planning decisions, as they may be subject to review by the courts and, in...

My hon. Friend shakes his head, but that information was given to the Department and to the Government office. I am sure that he will understand that I am unable to discuss specific planning cases and planning decisions, as they may be subject to review by the courts and, in...

These are all matters that the council should take into account before making a decision. I am concerned that my hon. Friend’s assertions contradict the information that appears to have been given to the Government office, and I will look into those matters for him. It remains the case, however,...

These are all matters that the council should take into account before making a decision. I am concerned that my hon. Friend’s assertions contradict the information that appears to have been given to the Government office, and I will look into those matters for him. It remains the case, however,...

Given the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones), does the Minister accept the need for more scrutiny and monitoring of council decisions on planning? We might wish to give the Government office, or some other body in the regions, the role of checking...

Given the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones), does the Minister accept the need for more scrutiny and monitoring of council decisions on planning? We might wish to give the Government office, or some other body in the regions, the role of checking...

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise a matter that is important to the people of Stanley in my constituency. For the past few months, with many of my constituents, I have been fighting a battle to save View Lane park in Stanley. The park was originally gifted to...

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise a matter that is important to the people of Stanley in my constituency. For the past few months, with many of my constituents, I have been fighting a battle to save View Lane park in Stanley. The park was originally gifted to...

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) for raising an important and serious issue. His grave concerns have led him to raise the subject tonight. Later, I shall come to the specific issues that he raised about his constituency, but first I should like to...

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) for raising an important and serious issue. His grave concerns have led him to raise the subject tonight. Later, I shall come to the specific issues that he raised about his constituency, but first I should like to...

I am interested in what the Minister is saying, but I can assure her that Derwentside district council did not do any of those things. The Government office should have pulled it up, but it did not do so.

I am interested in what the Minister is saying, but I can assure her that Derwentside district council did not do any of those things. The Government office should have pulled it up, but it did not do so.

I shall come to the Government office in a moment. I was trying to make the point that it is for the council to make a judgment on whether the assessment is acceptable. Ultimately, that can be tested in court. Councils must look at opportunities to improve the value of...

I shall come to the Government office in a moment. I was trying to make the point that it is for the council to make a judgment on whether the assessment is acceptable. Ultimately, that can be tested in court. Councils must look at opportunities to improve the value of...

indicated dissent.

indicated dissent.

It is always difficult to define the quality of decision making. When we agree with a decision we may think that the quality of decision making is good, and when we disagree we may think it is bad. In my opinion, however, the points made by my hon. Friend the...

It is always difficult to define the quality of decision making. When we agree with a decision we may think that the quality of decision making is good, and when we disagree we may think it is bad. In my opinion, however, the points made by my hon. Friend the...