Cllr Jon Hubbard

Lib Dems on Wiltshire Council have called for urgent changes to the government's planning laws

Published on Tuesday 11th October 2011 by Phil MacDonald

Liberal Democrats on Wiltshire Council this week expressed their concerns over the changes to the planning system, and submitted their concerns to the government consultation.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Lib Dem Group Leader (Melksham South) said 'The new proposals could allow developers free reign to build on greenfield sites, by overturning the current checks and balances, and giving developers 'presumed consent' to build anywhere, unless the council raises an objection. This is a real threat to communities and the environment in Wiltshire.

"Conservatives on Wiltshire Council and the Conservative Secretary of State have been equally unclear in defining what they mean by 'sustainable' development. One of our priorities is that a clear definition is placed on what 'sustainable' means. Wiltshire's Core Strategy, which fails to deal with development outside of the Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury, could be taken together with the Planning Reforms to allow uncontrolled building on our countryside. We've called on both Conservatives on Wiltshire Council and the national government to look at this."

Read more http://www.workingforwiltshire.org.uk/8-news/latest/150-lib-dems-on-wiltshire-council-have-called-for-urgent-changes-to-the-governments-planning-laws