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Planning Problems
October 16, 2009 12:00 AM
By Paul Holmes MP in View from the Commons
By Paul Holmes MP in View from the Commons
Most people rarely give planning issues a second thought. Until that is, an application is made that directly affects them. Then they might ask "why on earth is the Council even considering such and such an application?" Answer - because by national law they HAVE to consider any legally made application. Some ask "why did/didn't the local MP allow this application to go ahead?" Answer -because an MP has no power whatsoever over Planning Applications.
Only Planning Committee members can decide an application and they have to operate within numerous national planning regulations. If they express an opinion for or against an application before the Planning Meeting then they are disqualified by Government rules from voting.
So it goes on, with Central Government rules calling the shots much of the way. Turn down an application and the Developer can appeal to the Government. But accept an application and the local objectors cannot appeal! Think that's one sided in favour of developers? Wait until the Labour Government's new rules (which I opposed in Parliament), come into effect, whereby 'major infrastructure proposals' such as Nuclear Power Plants or major roads cut out local Planning Committees altogether with a Government appointed Quango taking the decisions instead!
Two controversial planning applications are still hanging over the heads of Chesterfield residents. The proposal for an Asbestos waste station at Old Whittington has now been turned down (long ago), by Chesterfield Borough Council and a few days ago by Derbyshire County Council. But because DCC took a year and a half to decide on an application they should have dealt with in 3 months, the final say on this matter is now with a Government Planning Inspector.
The proposal for a 'Gasification' plant at Dunston may now be approaching its final weeks -over a year after it was lodged with DCC. Chesterfield Borough Council Planning Committee recommended rejecting it last year. In my view DCC should reject it when they meet.
There are many complex technical arguments about its safety in terms of pollutants. But whatever the outcome of those this plant is in any case being proposed for the wrong place. It would be next to 3,000 houses in Dunston and upwind of Whittington and Brimington. High quality business parks like Dunston, the Bridge Business Centre and many firms such as Fusion are completely opposed to this type of business being sited next to them. The road access for HGV's is not good. Hopefully DCC Cllrs will reject it as Chesterfield Cllrs already have.
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