THE latest chapter in the Christopher Whitehead High School chronicles is published today.

The long-suffering residents of St John's will now have to wait another eight months for any possibility of a decision in the "move the school?" saga and a resolution of the conflicting claims of the rival supermarket schemes which, one way or another, will fund the future aspirations of Chrissies.

But what this whole fiasco, and that is what it must appear to any level-headed outsider - shows extremely clearly is why it takes so long to get anything significant done in this country, compared to our European partners.

There has been talk recently of the ridiculous planning regulations that this country inflicts on itself - planning rules and regulations that were drawn up and implemented in the late 1940s to deal with a post-world war situation.

These regulations are woefully out of date and out of touch with the reality of life in the 21st Century.

They need rapidly reviewed.

We are not suggesting open season, but a much more realistic vision as to what the community needs and what must be done to meet these needs.

The Christopher Whitehead school/store war saga is a perfect example of how the planning system can be used to stifle and frustrate what should be an easy decision to make.

We know the ramifications are many and the sensitivities of the various communities, organisations and councils genuinely felt, but the interminable delays are now in danger of turning off all those who will be needed to sort out and administer the final outcome.

And those who will be worse affected will be the very people that the city will be dependent on for a vibrant future. The children.

What a poor example to set.

What is beyond doubt, as far as this paper is concerned, is that this nation needs a modern, easy-to-understand, simple to operate system of planning.

Without it, we are doomed to more of the same.