Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Angela Burns is urging people to take part in the Welsh Government consultation on planning which has just been launched.
Speaking in the debate raised by the Welsh Conservatives last week Mrs Burns said,
“I am speaking on behalf of my constituents who do not understand the system. That is not because they are stupid, because they most certainly are not. It is only because the planning system in Wales seems to be spectacularly unfair. You can have two houses side by side: one is allowed to build a garage, but the other is not. You have developers who are ignoring building controls, and there is a lack of enforcement, will and tools. Enforcement officers have told me again and again, ‘There’s not a lot that I can actually do about it; I can write to them, I can complain and kick up a stink, but as for going to court and taking it any further, it is just not going to happen’. There seem to be rules for one and not the other”.
“You have councils who will not go out to help with the pre-application process. Their officers tell people just to put in a planning application, and then they tell them it is wrong and charge them yet another fee. Planning should not be a profit centre for a council; it should be there to help the public. It is a mess. There is real inequality”.
Mrs Burns added, “Planning is a major issue that I deal with on a daily basis and I would urge everyone to take part in this consultation. It can be accessed on the internet at http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/planning/planningappeals/?lang=en
