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06 Dec 2001
Government plans to speed up the planning process will be one of the
biggest blows to environmental protection and citizens rights for many
years, Friends of the Earth warned today. The environmental campaign
group said that it's lawyers would closely study the proposals,
due to be published in a Green Paper in the next few days.
Over recent weeks the Government has made it clear that it wants to
fast-track the planning system for major projects such as airports,
roads, ports and nuclear power stations. This would mean that public
inquiries - like the one currently considering a massive port development
at Dibden Bay [1] -would no longer be held into such controversial projects.
Initial approval would be given by Ministers, with Parliament making
the key decision. Public inquiries would not question the need for the
development and only deal with local details. Friends of the Earth believes
this will be bad news for the environment and citizens rights.
The Government has highlighted the 'delay' in approving Terminal 5
as a reason for fast-tracking planning - even though most delay was
caused by either the Government and BAA, not the objectors. Only 10
projects in the past 15 years had public inquiries lasting more than
3 months.
Hugh Ellis, Planning Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“These new plans are a massive blow to environmental protection.
The system is already stacked in favour of developers, now it seems
that even people's limited right to object to controversial developments
in their area is to be curtailed. If the Government gets its way, local
communities will only have a say over what colour to paint the gates
at the new nuclear power station Parliament has decided will be built
in their area.”
"Friends of the Earth will be pulling out the stops to fight these proposals. Our lawyers will be examining the details very closely when they are finally published.”
[1] A Public Inquiry into plans by Associated British Ports to build a massive 202 hectare super-port at Dibden Bay, an internationally important wildlife site, began last week. The project is opposed by local people and environmental groups including Friends of the Earth. Dibden Bay is the type of project that the Government wants to fast-track.
FOE has produced briefings on Planning; Dibden Bay and the 'delays' at Terminal 5
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
