CUMBERLAND council leader Mark Fryer has said the authority will not accept the 'throwing out of environmental protections' after a bid for three 'investment zones' in the county was submitted to government.

At a meeting of the shadow authority, Liberal Democrat Councillor Roger Dobson asked a Question Without Notice on investment zones, originally proposed by Liz Truss and the ex-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

Cllr Dobson said: “The discredited chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget on September 23 announced the introduction of investment zones, which he promised would stimulate growth by reducing taxation and simplifying planning.

"I don't believe yesterday's 'Bonfire of the Vanities' statement by Jeremy Hunt changed that.

"Last Friday, a county council press release stated that council leaders have taken the next steps towards securing investment zones in Cumbria by submitting an expression of interest bid to Government.

"Three sites have been identified in Cumberland as potential investment zones: Oldside at the Port of Workington, Kingmoor Park in Carlisle, Leconfield Industrial Park in Cleator Moor.

“However, the RSPB, the National Trust, the Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Wildlife Trust, all oppose this national initiative. They believe that environmental protection will be reduced.

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"Will the leader of the council give an assurance that this council will only proceed with the introduction of investment zones on the basis that current environment protections are maintained?”

The leader answered saying that the council would only proceed with these zones, based on the current environmental protection in place, but said it would have been 'foolish' of the authority to not look at proceeding with the scheme at this stage.

Cumberland leader Mark Fryer said: "In a shortened answer yes, and the reasons behind that are we were put into a position where we had to make a decision about how we want to develop our areas and the current Government's policy.

"And it would be foolish of a local authority to cut that off at the 'stocking tops' when we don't know exactly what it's all about.

"What I've said all along througout this is the environmental policies: there won't be a bonfire of them.

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"Because when we built them all up, and got them in place - and some of the planning decisions as well certainly, in my view some of the investment zones need more planning laws than what are currently in place."

He concluded: "We are with you, we have moved to the next stage and we will be working with the council - all parties within the council and with others... on the future of  these zones."

Councillor Dobson thanked the leader for his 'comprehensive' reply which 'reassured' him.