Planners left in the dark
This week's planning committee 20 May 2020 has an agenda of 7 items.In its wisdom the Council has decided not to arrange visits for the committee to see the sites where the proposed developments are to take place. This is a new departure driven by Covid-19. Interpreting drawings is devilishly difficult and without the help of interested residents and professional planners most laypeople would struggle to interpret the drawings and make informed decisions. Some dedicated members of this committee will drive round these sites and to them I say well done but they will miss the public input and place those on the committee without a car at a disadvantage. The site next to the Hoover Building on the Western Ave A40 has been visited before and subsequently turned down. Maybe another visit there is not so important. Maybe. That is not true of other sites. The Council don't have to arrange site visits by Law but it seems to me that they de-democratise the process by not having them and jump to cancel them at the first opportunity. They hide behind Covid-19 when they could have simply added two more drivers and minibuses to the site visiting fleet for around £350 to ensure safe distancing for the members of the planning committee and a proper planning process.
Arthur Breens ● 1808d4 Comments