SIR - I read with great interest Cllr Andy Brown’s letter (Craven Herald, February 14) arguing that the ‘consensus has been lost’ regarding decision making processes for allocation and preservation of recognised assets such as Hellifield Flashes and Park Hill, Skipton. He is absolutely right of course that decisions made by remote ‘National planning inspectors’ can overrule common planning arguments, but in this case is that really a bad thing?

The problem lies in that towns and cities are changing faster than ever before. As a consequence town and country planning methods and models for growth have to be richer, more fluent and dynamic to accommodate our needs. As some places prosper and accelerate it is very likely other places will decelerate and decline. There are many and varied reasons that this happens. Setting aside land, and labelling ‘protected’ to so-called static ‘green-space’, such as Hellifield Flashes and Park Hill can no longer be the ‘norm’.

Yes, our special places need to be kept, but they now must be articulated for the future, by engaging their resources into the fabric of our dynamic society. This does not of course mean that ‘green–spaces’ are ‘at risk’ and can be wholly built on; it simply means that they should be integrated as a resource, where they contribute to the fabric of growth rather than in isolation from it. Protectionist amongst you might be horrified of this view, but change is inevitable and we have to seek new ways to accommodate our new ideologies for secure growth. A Landscape Structure Plan sets out the framework on how this can be achieved. It requires new thinking and a modern approach integrating and linking disciplines to put in place strategic planning and design. Many of these former ‘green-spaces’ will require your input, so don’t be deluded, ultimately your ‘local’ voice will likely be heard. This is obviously a new challenge, and will be a new, enlightening journey for the many of you that are willing to help shape the future.

I think that the national Planning Inspectorate, in this instance, are not interfering, with your decision making; what they are actually doing is offering you a tool to make choices that will advantage the very make up of your society and how it succeeds or not. The only ‘risk’ is not to carry out a Landscape Structure Plan; thus the issue resides with the Councillors and their authorities to act.

Paul Redshaw

Landscape and Environmental Consultant.

Silsden