Bolton Planning Department - Letter from Simon Pearce

 

Town’s planners are blatantly pro-developer at all costs

Wednesday 13th June 2012

 

IN his recent letter, Mr Richardson berated the local planning system for the amateur handling and especially the lack of an impact assessment of the new Tesco store in Little Lever.

He would be even more annoyed to learn about Planning Policy Statement 4, published in late December 2009, which includes the clear direction in Policy EC13.1.b: “When assessing planning applications affecting shops, etc, in local centres and villages, local planning authorities should refuse planning applications which fail to protect existing facilities which provide for people’s day-to-day needs.” Existing shop viability is deemed essential.

I have significant experience of planning officer reports that are both superficial in content and depth of analysis, misleading as to facts and one-sided. I’m afraid that Tesco objectors like Mr Richardson were fighting with both hands tied firmly behind their backs.

Complete reform of the planning decision making system is the only way forward with representation on committees required beyond local politicians.

It has to be said, in fairness, that in late March this year, the new relaxed national planning regulations were introduced by the government of millionaires and developers are now pushing against an open door.

That being said, many have come to experience Bolton’s planning system as being blatantly pro-developer at all costs, whether it be ruining the remaining green belt in this area, with ugly and insubstantial tin and plastic-style urban buildings that scar the green belt landscape; or deciding on potentially wrecking the retail centre of Little Lever, as hundreds argued.

Next up is whether to allow the tranquility of Harwood district to be further harmed by allowing hundreds of noisy and heavy quarry lorry traffic weekly trips to continue for another decade or more.

Bolton’s planning committee and its officers discredit themselves when they turn a blind eye to their own policies with their pro-developer agenda.

Simon Pearce
Bromley Cross Bolton