The government's intention to remove public rights to object to the location of major developments has rang alarm bells at the Cambridgeshire branch of the CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England), prompting a call for local MPs to be lobbied to amend the plan.

In the next few weeks, Ministers will unveil their proposals to speed up planning procedure for major infrastructural projects ‘of national significance’, e.g. new airports, ports or nuclear power stations. CPRE fears that giving Parliament the power to give the go-ahead for such developments would restrict the opportunity the public currently has to make representations at a Public Inquiry. In particular, it is feared the government may remove local rights to object to the location of major projects.

Locally, Cambs CPRE has voiced its concerns about the impact such changes might have in the region. Cambridgeshire CPRE Secretary Shirley Fieldhouse said:

“The government’s plans are very disturbing. If the legislation is changed to remove the right to challenge the location of major new developments Cambridgeshire people, councils and environmental organisations may find they have inadequate opportunity to present objections to proposals or to put their case for major modifications.

“For example, if there were to be a major new road through the Cambridge greenbelt or the creation of a large-scale waste incineration plant and landfill site, it is essential that local people should have their democratic say.

“Local people have local knowledge which we cannot expect Ministers or their civil servants to have. We also have to live with the consequences of decisions about such major developments. Organisations like CPRE exist to offer their expertise at such times, as we did when opposing the infamous Southern Relief Road. ”

Gareth Ridewood of Huntingdonshire CPRE added:

“If the kind of arrangement the government wants had been applied to the proposed development at Alconbury Airfield it would have taken the issue away from local people and been decided by MPs from throughout the UK who have no local knowledge of what development would best meet the needs of people in Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. Local people would just be left to comment on minor issues once the development had been imposed upon them.”

Cambridgeshire CPRE will be writing to local MPs expressing their concerns. The group is encouraging local councils and members of the public to do the same.

To find out more, and have your say, see Future of the Planning System and send in your responses by March 18th.

And join the Cambridgeshire CPRE team working to protect our rights and our countryside.