MSPs SET TO HEAR COMMUNITY VIEWS ON PLANNING REFORM

CCOM005/2005 | 19 October 2005

Organisations from across the country will gather at the Scottish Parliament on Saturday, October 29, to discuss the proposals put forward by the Scottish Executive for the modernisation of the Scottish planning system.

The event, entitled ‘Modernising Scotland’s Planning System’ has been organised by the Parliament’s Communities Committee to give local communities a voice before the proposed changes to legislation are considered by Holyrood.

The Scottish Executive’s Planning Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament before the end of the year, and the Committee believes it is vital to have input from members of the public.

Karen Whitefield MSP, Convener of the Communities Committee, said: “This will be one of the furthest-reaching pieces of legislation to go before the Parliament in recent years, affecting local authorities, businesses and residents alike, so it is imperative that we listen to opinions from communities across Scotland.

“The Scottish Executive White Paper, Modernising the Planning System, outlines wide ranging and significant changes designed to benefit communities, so now is the time to encourage involvement and identify any concerns which might exist.”

The views expressed on the day will be used to aid the Committee in its scrutiny of the Bill.

There will be a strong presence from individuals and Community Councils from all areas of Scotland at the event. Other organisations attending on the day include large pressure groups such as Friends of the Earth Scotland, and bodies such as the RSPB and the National Trust for Scotland.

Amongst those taking part will be Ann Coleman, of Greengairs near Airdrie, who became interested in the planning process when concerns were raised about the prevalence of open cast mines in her local area.

Mrs Coleman, a member of her local Community Council and Environmental Forum, said: “A lot of communities have had bad experiences with the planning system and want to see improvements, and this is the first step in delivering that vision.

“I’m very proud of our Scottish Parliament, and I think it’s quite courageous for our MSPs to open their doors, allowing ordinary people like me to come in and bring the voice of my community.

“It’s a very open approach and that’s why I feel it’s a worthwhile part of the process - if we’re asking our elected representatives to make these changes, it’s only right that we’re involved.”

The Committee will also hold three additional events in November for planning professionals, for developers and other business interests, and for councillors who have a role in the planning system.

The October 29 event runs from 10am to 4.30pm.

NOTES:

The day will be opened by Deputy Presiding Officer Murray Tosh MSP, followed by an introduction to the event from Ms Karen Whitefield MSP, Convener of the Communities Committee.

A speaker will go on to discuss the White Paper, the purpose of the planning system, and implications of reform.

This will be followed by a debate entitled “Meaningful Public Participation in the Planning Process”, focussing on measures to improve public participation in a modernised planning system. These include:

• Pre-application consultations.
• Wide public participation in the formulation of development plans.
• Transferring neighbour notification responsibilities to planning authorities.
• Greater use of hearings.
• Procedures to assess whether local people have had the opportunity to engage in the development plan process and in applications that have been called in by Ministers.
• Enhanced levels of scrutiny for plans that do not accord with development plans or that require an Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Requirements for planning authorities to give reasons for their decisions and notify individuals.

Media Access:

Members of the media are welcome to attend. Please contact Lesley McIvor in the Media Relations Office on 0131 348 6245 or email lesley.mcivor@scottish.parliament.uk to arrange accreditation.

Photographs:

Photographs will be available from Andrew Cowan – call 0131 348 6269 or email andrew.cowan@scottish.parliament.uk

For more information on these events, as well as the work of the Communities Committee, visit
www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/communities/index.htm

A full list of participating organisations will be available from the Media Relations Office.

The Parliament's media contact is:

Eric MacLeod: 0131 348 5389
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: eric.macleod@scottish.parliament.uk

For specific committee information, contact:

Communities Committee contact information

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000

For general enquiries, contact 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

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