Tory’s planning concern

Jan 24 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NEW laws will take planning decisions away from local people, a politician has warned.

Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Dewsbury Kevin Hollinrake is concerned about the Housing and Regeneration Bill.

The measure, which is currently going through Parliament, would create new planning bodies.

Mr Hollinrake said: “The new unelected Homes and Communities Agency would have the power to seize land, enter private property and act as its own planning authority.

“The new Infrastructure Planning Commission would take complete control of planning permission for large developments like airports, power stations, motorways, sewage plants and hazardous landfill sites – the types of development which rightly concern local people so much.”

Mr Hollinrake added that councils would have no say on who sat on these bodies.

He said: “Gordon Brown is now showing his true control-freak instincts with an army of new quangos on the march.

“The planning system needs reform, but the voice of local communities must be loud and clear. Conservatives will stand up for the people of Kirklees and protect local democracy.”