Politician slams new planning proposals

Published on 31st May 2007 in News

A local Tory has accused the government of trying to weaken communities' power to influence planning applications.

Goole and Brigg would-be MP Andrew Percy has hit out at proposals contained in a document called Planning for a Sustainable Future: White Paper, which proposes ambitious reforms to the planning system.

It covers the processes on national projects and local planning and, according to the government, will make them more efficient and responsive.

However, Mr Percy said: "Labour's regional planning red tape and Whitehall targets have snarled up the planning system, whilst restricting the say of local residents.

"The voice of local communities must be preserved and a democratic, accountable process must be maintained.

"That means we have to ensure that the local community are more actively involved in the planning process, including in emotive issues such as the siting of phone masts, which councils presently have little say in.

"This is especially important in the Goole area, where we have seen a number of very controversial developments in the past few years.

"If these changes go ahead then local people will potentially have even less say in local planning issues."

Mr Percy also referred to what he termed 'unsackable quangocrats', saying: "The new unelected 'planning commissioners' will effectively be unsackable and unaccountable.

"The government propose fixed eight-year terms, and no ability for their removal on grounds of their decisions – giving a green light for the quangocrats to ignore public opinion.

"Supermarkets favoured over small shops: Controls will be weakened on out-of-town development, giving the dominant supermarkets even greater power over small shops and local high streets."

Mr Percy said he was keeping an open mind on proposals to make it easier for households to build an extension – provided that neighbours were still given the opportunity to object if it affected their property or local amenity.

The public is being consulted on the proposals; all comments must be received by August 17.

For more information, go to www.communities.gov.uk and follow the links or call 020 7944 6511.