Rochdale first to say 'NO' to UK Planning Bill

Rochdale Council is the first Council in Britain to confirm their opposition to the UK Planning Bill in a Notice of Motion that was put forward at last night's Rochdale Council Meeting.

The Bill, which was passed through the House of Commons on 26 June, will see major planning decisions taken away from councils and decided by an un-elected regional Quango.

In an emotional plea, Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "This council has a clear policy of devolving more and more powers directly down to local communities and people. The UK Planning Bill directly flys in the face of that. Planning decisions such as that at Ding Quarry or TBA for example will be taken out of this council's hands and I am appalled at this thought. This Labour Government seems intent on centralising more and more decision making powers from local authorities and I urge this council to pass this motion."

Councillor Peter Rush, who seconded the motion, said: "I am proud to represent Heywood and this Planning Bill worries me. It will see planning decisions taken further and further out of the hands of local people. Planning decisions on major projects such as prisons, airports, nuclear power stations and much more will be decided by an unelected organisation and this is simply not on. Nothing is more important to local people than the local environment they live in and I urge this council to back this motion."

In the absence of Labour leader Councillor Colin Lambert, acting Labour Leader Councillor Peter Williams said: "I fully back the sentiments of this motion. I sympathise with the Government's stance on planning issues however. The current planning system we have is not perfect and action does need to be taken to speed the whole process up."

The item was amended so that all three party political leaders, as well as the Chief Executive of the Council, will write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to put in a formal objection to the proposals.