MP Jo Swinson urges Alex Salmond to axe reporter's powers
FOLLOWING the decision of a Scottish Government reporter to grant a controversial development at Kilmardinny attempts are being made to have such powers scrapped.
MP Jo Swinson has called on First Minister Alex Salmond to stop unelected planning officials overruling democratically elected councillors — as has happened with the application by Cala Homes and Stewart Milne for proposals which include 550 new houses.
In a strongly worded letter to Mr Salmond, Ms Swinson criticised the planning appeals system which allowed a government reporter to overrule East Dunbartonshire Council's rejection of the much-opposed Kilmardinny/ Westpark development.
She is urging the council to "stand its ground" and refuse to go ahead with the proposals set to change the landscape of open ground from Hillfoot in Bearsden to Auchenhowie in Milngavie — proposals she believes are NOT in the interests of the community.
Ms Swinson also sent the First Minister articles and readers' letters published in the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald saying they demonstrate the overwhelming opposition to the development among local people.
The MP believes the planning appeals system is "deeply undemocratic" saying Government reporters should not be able to tell local councils what is best for their communities.
She also criticises the system of "planning gain", which gives reporters the power to decide how much developers must invest in facilities and infrastructure for the local community.
In the case of the Kilmardinny proposals, reporter Janet McNair decreed that the developers must provide 10million for a new sports centre, 650,000 for road construction and directed that 10 per cent of the new housing must be "affordable".
Ms Swinson argues this is not nearly enough to make up for the negative impacts of the development and said: "I have received countless letters, e-mails and phone calls to my office from people in Milngavie and Bearsden who are angry that a decision by our local councillors can be rejected by an unelected planning official.
"The Milngavie and Bearsden Herald is also doing an excellent job of supporting local campaigners against the development, which is why I have sent a pile of articles and letters from the paper to show just how strongly people feel about this.
"I find it ridiculous that the appeals system should give so much power to a reporter who is not accountable to the public and does not know what is best for the community.
" I have called on Alex Salmond to urgently reform this system to put power back in the hands of local people.
"In the meantime, I understand that the reporter is still deciding whether or not to grant an extension for the council to negotiate an agreement with the developers.
"I hope that the council will stand its ground and refuse to go ahead with proposals which are not in the public interest."
She the Scottish Government's reporter have such strong powers? Click here to send your views to the Herald.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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