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Even Tories oppose Cameron planning scheme

Monday, 5th September 2011

The Government's plans to reform planning controls escalating a presumption in favour of development is backed by only 45% of Conservative Party members in a poll, with 52% of Tory Party members opposed to the plans.

The controversial new planning legislation comes about as part of the governments disastrous claims that they are reforming and simplifying the planning process and giving more power to local authorities. When in reality their planning document has not only become a lengthy example of increased red tape but has also thrown a lot of confusion into the development control process. Many Council officers have recently commented that it is difficult to make decisions when they are not sure which rules they are working with. This confusion has been exacerbated over the last year as Eric Pickles continued to make a series of media statements about the direction of policy, which he then found he was unable to incoroprate into legislation.

Cllr Peter Reeve, Spokesman on local government for UKIP (The UK Independence Party) yesterday stated "What this Government are saying in the media and what they are doing in reality seem to be two different things. They say they are giving communities more power in planning. But in reality they are giving only the power to build in inappropriate places, which almost no communities have requested to do and has led to huge opposition from groups such as the National Trust and environmental campaigners.  The proposed new legislation does not give the local people the ability to oppose building and development projects that communities believe are inappropriate - It is this power which communities want and it is this power that despite the headlines, Mr. Cameron is refusing to give."

UKIP have a long standing policy related to planning issues of referenda on all major building projects- truly giving decision making power directly to local communities. UKIP is also considering even more radical policies related to setting a time frame for a community right to recall any planning decisions that are granted approval by planning authorities. Cllr Reeve states "UKIP believes in redressing the balance of power which currently rests over whelmingly in favor of developers and putting more power directly in the hands of local communities to shape their own area".

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