Tory MP John Baron has attacked Prime Minister Tony Blair over "inadequate" planning laws which he says allow travellers to develop green belt land.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Question Time in the Commons, the Billericay MP said: "My constituency and others are seeing an influx of travellers who buy green belt land and then illegally develop it, the planning laws being able to do little about it.''
Mr Baron requested a meeting with Mr Blair to discuss the problem, which he described as "a cause of anguish" to many people.
Mr Blair conceded the current system of planning law could be slow and inefficient but promised to tackle breaches of the law more swiftly.
Mr Baron said the Government had blocked a private member's Bill which would have strengthened the planning laws and also reduced confrontation within communities.
Mr Blair replied: "There is, of course, planning legislation that we ourselves are going to take forward. I am sure some of these issues will fall within the scope of that Bill. It is absolutely vital, of course, that we make sure the planing laws are properly and quickly enforced.''
Mr Baron spoke after a major protest over a group of travellers facing eviction from an illegal campsite in north Warwickshire following a planning dispute.
Published Thursday January 15, 2004
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