Rooker- Restore our rights

New environment Minister, Lord Rooker, received an early challenge today from a coalition of leading environmental and community groups [1] as they demanded the restoration of basic rights in the planning system and reforms to give greater equality between developers and the community. The groups enjoy cross party political support [2].

Colm Bradley, Director of Community Technical Aid, said:

"In the guise of speed and efficiency the Government is proposing to erode existing rights and to deny us rights recently introduced in England. Astonishingly, Government wants to withdraw the right of the public to be heard at planning inquiries. This is a fundamental right that is not negotiable."

Mr Bradley continued:

"Community involvement in the planning process is central to fair and good decision making. This has been recognised in England by the introduction of 'Statements of Community Involvement' which spell out in detail how and when planners will involve local community and other interests in the planning process. Our Planning Service appears not to want to benefit from having the public more involved."

Rita Harkin of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society called for equal rights of appeal for the public and developers:

"While developers can appeal against a refusal of planning permission, local residents cannot appeal against a grant of planning permission. This is fundamentally unfair and weights the whole system in favour of
developers. Our neighbours south of the border have what is called a 'third party right of appeal' and there is cross party and widespread support for the same rights here. The last Assembly Environment Minister
promised a public debate on this issue but this has been stifled by direct-rule Ministers."

Dr Hugh Ellis, Friends of the Earth's Planning Adviser [3], was closely involved in developing new planning legislation in England. He commented:

"I was astonished and angered when I read the DOE's proposals to withdraw the public's right to be heard and to ignore the new right of community involvement recently introduced in England. In the absence of
devolution, it is surely the duty of direct-rule Ministers to ensure that the rights of citizens are protected. Instead, Ministers appear to have allowed their civil servants to bow to pressure from developers and are proposing to relegate people in Northern Ireland to the status of second-class citizens."

The 'Rights Up Your Street' campaign is supported by 76 organisations and individuals such as MPs, MLAs and leading academics. It is led by Community Technical Aid, Friends of the Earth, RSPB, Ulster
Architectural Heritage Society and the Ulster Wildlife Trust. Its three key demands are:

1. Protect the right to be heard: the proposals to remove the right to be heard at local plan inquiries should be withdrawn - opportunities to participate in planning should be strengthened, not reduced.

2. Give communities and developers equal rights of appeal: there should be a full and meaningful consultation on whether third party rights of appeal should be introduced.

3. Ensure planners consult with communities: a Statement of Community Involvement in Planning should be introduced here as in England.

Notes

1. (back) Lord Rooker, Minister for the Environment, has received a letter from the Community Technical Aid, Friends of the Earth, RSPB, Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and the Ulster Wildlife Trust seeking a
meeting to discuss the three demands above. Further background on the issues is available at: www.foe.co.uk/northern_ireland/press_for_change/planning_rights/index.html

2. (back) The initiative is supported by the following organisations and individuals which include representatives of the Alliance Party, DUP, Sinn Féin, SDLP and UUP.

Eileen Bell, MLA, Alliance Party
Francis Brolly, MLA, Sinn Féin
Willie Clarke, MLA, Sinn Féin Seamus Close, OBE, MLA, Alliance Party
Michael Copeland, MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Jeffrey Donaldson, MP, MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Tommy Gallagher, MLA, SDLP
Samuel Gardiner, MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Lady Hermon, MP, Ulster Unionist Party
Davy Hyland, MLA, Sinn Féin
Naomi Long, MLA, Alliance Party Kieran McCarthy JP, MLA, Alliance Party
Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin
Caitriona Ruane, MLA, Sinn Féin
Rev. Martin Smyth, Ulster Unionist Party
Jim Wells, MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Jim Wilson, MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Advice NI
Ballynafeigh Community Development Association
Banbridge District Community Network
Bangor West Conservation Group
Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group
Belfast Traveller Support Group
Cancer Lifeline
Community Exchange
Community Network Portadown
Community Technical Aid
COSTA
Cullybackey Improvement Association
Curran Point Residents' Association
Prof. Sue Christie
Disability Action
East Belfast Partnership
EcoSeeds
Falls Forum
Geraint Ellis - Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental Planning, QUB
Family Caring Centre
Finnebrogue Residents Group
Friends of the Earth
Greater Shankill Partnership
Greencastle Area Residents Group
Groundwork NI
Hearth
Killinchy Rural Preservation Group
Ligoniel Improvement Association
Lower Antrim Road Regeneration Initiative
Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group
Prof. Malachy McEldowney, School of Environmental Planning, QUB
Magherafelt Women's Group
Clive Mellon - Environmental Consultant
Mornington Community Project
Morton Community Centre
Moygashel Residents Association
New Lodge Forum
NICVA
Omagh Forum for Rural Associations
Omagh Independent Advice services
Portstewart Community Vision
Prehen Historical and Environmental Society
Rasharkin Women's Group
RSPB
Rural Community Network
Rural Housing Association
South Belfast Partnership
Dawson Stelfox
Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project Limited
Sustrans
The National Trust
Tidy Northern Ireland
Traveller Movement (Northern Ireland)
Prof. Sharon Turner
Ulster Architectural Heritage Society
Ulster Wildlife Trust
West Belfast Economic Forum
West Belfast Partnership Board
Woodland Trust

3. (back) Dr Hugh Ellis chaired a committee for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on public participation in planning.