Planning concerns raised by Skipton MP Julian Smith (From Craven Herald)

Planning concerns raised by Skipton MP Julian Smith

11:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in News

Skipton MP Julian Smith has met with the head of the Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to discuss concerns about the planning system.

He said he was voicing the frustration felt by many constituents over the reversing of decisions made by local councils.

Sir Michael Pitt, chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate, and Communi-ties Secretary Eric Pickles both emphasised the need for councils to maintain up-to-date local plans.

Mr Smith said: “While agreeing that councils do all they can to ensure their plans are as up-to-date as possible, I made the case that it is important that local communities do not feel the views of their democratically- elected local representatives are ignored in the planning process.”