Write to be heard
25 November 2008

The Planning Bill is set to become law in December 2008.

The Bill will affect all major infrastructure projects such as airports, roads, power stations, and railways.

How will the new Bill affect me?

Planning decisions have an enormous impact on how people and communities live.

For a democratically accountable and fair system it is very important that the public can be meaningfully involved.

Under the new Act, your right to have a say about new developments where you live is dramatically reduced.

There will be:

No automatic public inquiry -
oral hearings on specific issues are at the discretion of the new Commission.
No democratic accountability -
these decisions will now be taken by the unelected Infrastructure Planning Commission.
No right to be heard on site specific National Policy Statements -
such as aviation and nuclear power.

These changes risk public protest and legal challenges.

This will increase the length of time needed to reach a decision rather than speeding up the process as the Government claims.

Press for change

This is our last chance to express our concerns to the Government on the Planning Bill.

Let them know that this is important to you.

Write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Write to be heard

Dear Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

I am writing to ask you to ensure that public involvement in the Planning Bill is meaningful. Independent legal opinions have clearly set out how the new process will be open to more challenge because people will not be able to present their case adequately. I am very concerned at how changes to the current system will reduce people's opportunity to be meaningfully involved, especially as regards the following: - A default position of written examination rather than public inquiry - No explicit right to cross-examination, and to bring expert witnesses - Lack of support to people making representations from legal advisers - Lack of independent pre-application consultation process - Unelected, unaccountable decision-making body For myself and others as members of the public to have any confidence in the new major infrastructure planning system, the Planning Bill must safeguard the existing rights and be seen to be fair.

You can contact me by email (preferably - to save resources) or at the following address:

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Write to be heard25 November 2008

How will the new Bill affect me?

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Write to be heard
25 November 2008