Planning White Paper means less say on transport decisions
The government's Planning White Paper published on 21 May contains some disastrous proposals for groups opposing road schemes. As if the current system is not unfair enough, the government also proposes to hand over decision making powers to an 'Independent' Planning Commission (which they will appoint) who will have a 'presumption in favour' of passing schemes that conform to government decided National Policy Statements. You would no longer be able to question the need or economic justification for a scheme, and you may not even have the right to appear at the inquiry! For local road schemes, the government proposes to leave all decision making to local authorities, and reducing the amount of call-ins, where the government calls a public inquiry. This would mean that local councils apply to themselves and grant their own planning permissions with no public inquiry! It is an absolute disaster, but fortunately several national groups have formed a Planning Coalition Group to campaign against the proposals.
The Coalition want as many people as possible to send in comments, to the Dept for Communities and Local Government, by 17 August. The Coalition is organising a fortnight of action from 30 June to 14 July, with a day of action by local groups on Saturday 14 July. Please consider organising an demonstration on that day. See the Planning Disaster website (http://www.planningdisaster.co.uk) for more information. In the meantime send a letter to the government from here:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/local/planning/press_for_change/planning_white_paper/index.html
Friends of the Earth has also produced a resources pack:
http://community.foe.co.uk/campaigns/rights/action.html
FoE is also producing a printed copy and postcards for giving out to members of the public at stalls. If anyone wants any of the FoE cards and resource packs, they can contact Owen Espley, the Planning Coalition Campaigner - owen.espley@foe.co.uk
Rough guide to the Planning White Paper published May 2007
The Government's Planning White Paper was released on 22nd May, and will fast-track massive and damaging new developments, increase UK CO2 emissions, and reduce the right of local people to object to schemes that threaten their communities. Green campaigners have condemned ministers for "steamrollering" objections to major new schemes for nuclear power stations, airport runways, motorways, waste incinerators and even wind farms. People fear the proposals for Major Infrastructure Projects (MIPs) will reduce the level of real community involvement in deciding what gets built in their local area.
Members of the public have until 17th August 2007 to respond to the Government's proposals.
The Barker Report suggested there should be a presumption in favour of development, and proposed the creation of an independent Planning Commission to take decisions on major infrastructure projects, such as major roads, nuclear power stations, waste incinerators or airports. The Eddington Transport study made similar proposals for streamlining these contentious planning decisions. Where in the past, at planning inquiries, it was possible to challenge the economic justification for an airport development, this would no longer be the case, if the planning system is streamlined.
The Government wants to fast track new major developments – whether people want them or not. The Planning White Paper will effectively silence local opposition to big polluting projects. The White Paper proposes new National Policy Statements, and an Infrastructure Planning Commission, in order to process MIPs.
Contained in the White Paper are proposals to:
- Streamline major projects like nuclear power stations, airports, major roads and large incinerators.
- Stop you from having a say by removing your right to be heard in Public Inquiries and local plans.
