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Alistair Burt’s monthly column: Having our say about developments in Bedfordshire
alistair burt MP
IF there is one issue in which MPs are involved, where they can guarantee significant public interest, it is planning.
In the past year, I have attended more public meetings on planning matters in the constituency than on any other subject.
As you will know, these meetings have mostly concerned wind farms, gypsy and traveller sites, and incinerators.
The issue is extremely difficult for MPs to deal with. We have no place on the local planning authority, and the rules on influence are now so strict that we must be treated in effect as simply another voice in the process, although it is recognised we may be speaking on behalf of number of people who may have made their own representations in any case.
Despite this, MPs know that there is often an expectation from the public that their views will carry more weight, and a hope that an MP’s word might actually decide an issue.
The truth is that whilst we add some weight from our involvement, we are not able to decide an issue in the way that perhaps a majority of our constituents would wish. Planning law cannot be arbitrary and must depend on rules which apply to both sides of a planning issue.
The government is changing the law in relation to gypsy and traveller sites to make the law more evenly balanced between travellers and the settled community. New guidance is due in the next month which will take effect immediately and govern any decision, either by the council or an inquiry, no matter when an application was submitted. I think this will be a positive development.
I am more disappointed in relation to wind farms. Whilst I support renewable and alternative forms of energy, I remain unconvinced that onshore wind farms are effective, a position I argue at inquiries. Our inquiry system does not make it easy for local concerns to override a national policy to reduce carbon emissions, though I believe it is still worthwhile putting the strongest local case against a site if it is in the wrong place.
I suspect 2012 will see more difficult planning issues arise. I will do my best to listen and support constituents where it is right to do so.
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Weather for Bedford
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
