Once again, Government shows it hasn’t got a clue!

by danielbarker on 3 July, 2020

In the past week, the Government has published plans to allow development to take place on brown field land without planning permission. This measure will do little to solve the country’s housing crisis and is actually down-right dangerous.

The planning application process is there to ensure that what gets built fits with local plans and is subject to democratic control. Applications are published and people can voice their opposition to development if they so wish. Councillors are sent details of each application and can ensure they are scrutinised at planning committee.

There are also basic environmental necessities that local government officers can ensure are being maintained. Some of these have only come into force in the last 50 years, and the idea that developments on brown field land will be able to bypass the usual processes raises the prospect of houses being built on polluted land, an issue familiar to many residents of a certain estate in Short Heath!

Remove the current procedures and development becomes all about profit with no concern for people’s welfare, no concern for what residents think.

There would be some logic to this move by the Government if the planning process was holding up house building, but it’s not! Councils up and down the country have given permission to new housing estates at great speed. The problem lies with developers who are sitting on planning permissions and not putting them into action – just look at what happened with the Brown Jug! Planning permission was given but not enacted. This is typical and is the problem that should be addressed.

Once again, this Government has shown itself to be ignorant of the real issues. It is more concerned with satisfying the demands of its rich property-owning friends than with the problems of ordinary people. I am not impressed and you shouldn’t be either. Remember which party is in government and who their friends are locally. Remember this whenever you get a chance to vote.

Dan Barker

Lib.Dem. Cllr for Short Heath

Content published and promoted by Willenhall Liberal Democrats all at 23 Lynwood Close, New Invention WV12 5BW

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