Comments for Planning Democracy

Comment on Lomond Quarry in Leslie by iainpd

iainpd — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:32:05 +0000

Hi – thanks for commenting and visiting the site. Enforcement is definatately an issue that keeps comming up in our case studies, although its normally to do with direct non-enforcement of a condition, as opposed to differential treatment like in your case. I’m planning to write a blog post on enforcement at some point so look out for that.

Comment on Why is public involvement in planning important? by iainpd

iainpd — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:25:05 +0000

Thanks for your comment, and sorry it took so long to publish – we’ve been getting lots of comment spam but have fixed that now!

Agreed the developer-commissioned EIAs can be a problem, their certainly percieved as a problem by lots of people we’ve talked to. They’re also so thick and complex, as you have found, they are not necessarily useful. I know the Scot Govt is attempting to slim them down, and, I think, recognises one of the reasons they have grown is because the companies have an interest in very detailed reports.

Getting the council to commission the EIA’s would definately address the percieved conflict of interest, but admin heavy I imagine and would still require much input and info from the developer. Difficult one! Slimming them down to key issues so that it’s harder to bury the controvertial aspects would probably help.

Comment on Lomond Quarry in Leslie by Annie Silver

Annie Silver — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:25:10 +0000

Can someone from local government please explain why it is ok for Councils to challenge house owners who break planning regs – often putting them through many months of anguish and stress, but they won’t challenge businesses – as in this case?
In our community, it is hotels and restaurants that flaunt the planning regs, H&S, etc, but the council never “punishes” them for these breaches. None are closed down. They are allowed to continue operating and they continue to get recommendations from newspaper critics etc.
It is time that planning laws and regs are upheld for all – and if councils are not willing to do it, it is time for the Scottish Government to step in.

Comment on Why is public involvement in planning important? by William English

William English — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:36:26 +0000

Hi I liked this article.
My experience with Lomond quarry is that I have spent months going through some extremely complex documents in EIA etc. I am no expert but I see areas that look to me like avoidance of rules that would stop the permission and rules that are not yet in force used to get the permission through. The elected councillors and the planning departments (just human beings) have a lot more to deal with than just quarries, so I believe that they rely heavily on the EIA reports etc that are produced by the companies hired by the applicant who wants the application to go through. If the application is refused will these companies that write the reports get further work from the applicant ?. To get unbiased EIA and other reports the Council should hire the companies to do the EIA reports and then charge the companies the price it cost the council. Would this give the public more confidence in the council.

Comment on Planning takes a ‘psychological and emotional toll’ on people by iainpd

iainpd — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:05:02 +0000

The Lommond Quarry case study – http://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk/archives/682

Comment on Planning takes a ‘psychological and emotional toll’ on people by iainpd

iainpd — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:34:53 +0000

Thanks Bill. We have written a case study on the Lomond Quarry and hope to publish it soon, it’s just being checked at the moment!

Comment on Planning takes a ‘psychological and emotional toll’ on people by William English

William English — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:06:33 +0000

Brilliant talk. The residents of Leslie have been fighting planning permissions for years for the Lomond quarry with their wishes ignored. Quarry was supposed to finish 1991 then 2010 then 2016 now they are blasting for dolerite till 2029 with nearest house about 80m and a golf course between house and quarry. Which shakes me and my house. There was no Public Local enquiry on planning application in 2009. Some say we missed the boat by 2 months for Public Local enquiry but I cannot see this as they had an EIA which to me meant that a Public local enquiry should have been done in 2009. Fife Council is reviewing its original Area of Great Landscape Value possibly to allow further extension to the north, maybe another 20yrs of blasting after 2029. It is only local people who have no benefit from the quarry who should have their comments properly regarded. To allow peoples comments who would benefit from the quarry can only lead to bribery and corruption. This quarry has a Shipping facility at Methil Docks leading me to believe that quarry products from Fife are going abroad to serve the needs of the NITBY’S (Not In Their Backyard) people who wont allow a blasting quarry near them.
Regards
Bill–member of Lomond Quarry Action Group

Comment on Hunterston judgement and our response by jerome

jerome — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:55:21 +0000

This judgement is a travesty! How can people live in a land where they are not respected. The need for Planning Democracy is obvious.