| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Front page article re. area planning committees | |
| Posted by: | Francis Rowe | |
| Date/Time: | 04/06/11 08:40:00 |
| The thing that surprises me most about this issue is the lack of reaction from Councillors. The loss of authority is significant and presumably they also face a cut in allowances. Planning decisions in Chiswick will now be taken by a committee in which Chiswick Councillors are in the minority. This is bound to have negative consequences from the area but not a squeak from those elected to represent Chiswick. Adam Beamish's idealised view of planning matters is surprisingly naive. Planners are just as prone to partiality, ineptitude and corruption as Councillors and to hand them over total control of planning matters would be very dangerous. Democratic oversight doesn't mean a return to Reg Maudsley but it does provide checks and balances in the system. Like others my experience of planning officers has been negative. They seemed to regard any intervention by the public, even when their quality of life was severely threatened, as an imposition. The involvement of Councillors in the process keeps them honest and reminds them that they are there to serve the process and their convenience does not come first. The lack of publicity for planning applications and the reduction of involvement of local Councillors in the process will mean that more applications will get through that will reduce the quality of life for people in Chiswick. |