More than nine out of ten people want to have a say over planning decisions affecting their local area, a new survey released today (Wednesday 25 June 2008) by Friends of the Earth shows - on the day MPs debate proposals in the Planning Bill that would remove people's existing right to have a say on decisions about major projects such as power stations, airports and roads.

The survey found that 94 per cent of people believe climate change should be taken into account when considering the impact of big projects. This puts the public at odds with MPs who voted in early June to leave out any reference to climate change from the planning bill.

The opinion poll also shows that almost two thirds of the public want planning decisions on major projects such as roads, power stations and airports to be taken by local councils rather than the Government. Under proposals set out in the Planning Bill these decisions would be taken by an unelected body called the Infrastructure Planning Committee.

Friends of the Earth's Planning Campaigner, Hugh Ellis, said: "These results fly in the face of the government's proposal to cut local democracy out of major planning decisions - and its ludicrous decision to leave climate change out of the Planning Bill altogether.

The environmental impact of major projects such as roads and airports must be taken into account to prevent us being locked into irreversible climate change and help us to move towards a cleaner and greener economy.

It's clear that local people want to be involved in decisions that fundamentally affect their communities - Ministers must amend the Planning Bill to make sure they have a right to be heard.

Notes

1. The survey, carried out by ComRes questioned 1002 people over the telephone between 23- 25 May 2008. Data were weighted to be representative demographically of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full tables at http://www.comres.co.uk/.

2. On Monday 2 June 2008, 24 Labour MPs voted against the Government by calling for the Planning Reform Bill to include a duty to consider climate change when planning major infrastructure projects such as roads and airports. The motion was defeated by a majority of just 15 and the Planning Reform Bill will now contain no legal duties to reduce climate change.
   www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd ¬/
   cm080602/debtext/80602-0021.htm#08060233000622
   
   This vote was the second recent sizeable rebellion by Labour MPs on climate change. On 30 April 2008, 37 MPs voted against the Government in favour of an amendment to the Energy Bill which would have encouraged homes, businesses and communities to install renewable energy systems such as solar panels.
   www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases ¬
   /labour_mps_rebel_on_energy_30042008.html

3. When asked how important it is for the views of local communities to be taken into account in planning decisions affecting their area, 95 per cent of people responded that it was either `very important' or `fairly important.'

4. When asked how important it is for climate change to be taken into account when considering the impact of new developments in planning decisions, 94 per cent of respondents said it was either `very important' or `fairly important.'

5. When asked who should make the final decision on where to build major new projects, such as roads, airports and power stations, 57 per cent of respondents said the local council should take these decisions.

6. For more information on Friends of the Earth's planning campaign, see: www.foe.co.uk/resource/local/planning/news/ ¬
   third_reading_planning_bill_9576.html

7. For further information about Friends of the Earth, please visit http://www.foe.co.uk/.