CONTROVERSIAL changes to the planning system in which the public won't have their say at meetings, could be devastating group of councillors has warned.
An open letter signed by town, district and county councillors from across Worcestershire has been published, arguing the government’s plans would see as many s 28,000 new homes built, harming the county’s green spaces.
Organised by countryside charity CPRE, 24 councillors from Worcestershire, including from Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon have signed the letter, joining more than 2,000 from the rest of the country.
The cross-party open letter, signed by Worcestershire figures including deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council Cllr Adrian Hardman and several Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green councillors, objects to the proposed removal of the public’s right to be heard at planning meetings, among other concerns.
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The letter says: “We believe that removing both the right of the public to be heard in person at local plan examinations, and many development control decisions from democratically elected planning committees, will lead to an unacceptable loss of local democracy, scrutiny and accountability and lead to worse outcomes for communities.
"This will inevitably reduce the trust that the public has in the planning system.”
Liberal Democrat Cllr Dan Boatright, from Pershore Town Council, said: “The proposed zoning system has the potential to reduce protections for nature and it will fail to tackle climate change.
"Additionally, the government failure to provide affordable, sustainable, good-quality homes will continue.
"There is also evidence that residents actually want to see more local decision making, not less and powers to oppose development should actually be increased, not diminished.
"However, it is heartening to see so many councillors join together to voice their concerns.”
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Among the changes proposed by the government is the ‘permission in principle’ planning law.
This means planning permission for housing developments can be granted earlier in the process, separating the decisions about whether a site should be developed from the later technical details involved in the plans.
Some of the proposals have already come into effect.
These include a fast track process for varying planning conditions relating to working hours on construction sites, and time limits for developments to extend the dates on which planning permission might expire.
For more details about the plans, go to https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8981/
Here is the full list of councillors who have signed the open letter:
WORCESTER:
Cllr Marjorie Bisset - GREEN
Cllr Lynn Denham - LAB
Cllr Matthew Jenkins - GREEN
Cllr Matthew Lamb - LAB
Cllr Joy Squires - LAB
MALVERN HILLS:
Cllr Martin Allen - GREEN
Cllr Paul Bennett - LIB DEM
Cllr Samantha Charles - LAB,
Cllr Natalie McVey - GREEN
Cllr John Raine - GREEN
Cllr Richard Whitehead - LIB DEM
WYCHAVON:
Cllr Dan Boatright - LIB DEM
Cllr Ed Cohen - GREEN
Cllr Adrian Hardman - CON (Wychavon and Worcestershire County)
Cllr Julie Tucker - GREEN
Cllr Liz Tucker - LIB DEM
WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY:
Cllr Alastair Adams - CON
Cllr Charlie Hotham - IND
WYRE FOREST:
Cllr Vicky Caulfield - GREEN
BROMSGROVE:
Cllr Sue Douglas - IND
Cllr Annette English - IND
Cllr Harrison Rone-Clark - LAB
REDDITCH:
Cllr Yvonne Smith
HAGLEY:
Cllr Steve Colella - Chair of Hagley Parish Council
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