27 July 2001
The government is changing the rules in an attempt to get major projects, such as airports and big roads, under way more quickly.
The environmental group Friends of the Earth warned that the proposals would only increase public frustration with the planning process, sparking bigger protests. 'This is a pay-off to the CBI and other developers,' said Paul deZylva, FoE's head of campaigns. 'It is bad news for democracy and the environment.'
The Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions' Secretary Stephen Byers announced on July 20 that public inquiries would be streamlined by taking away their power to consider policy issues, which would be left to ministers and MPs.
According to the DTLR, this could cut three to five years off the ten years it now takes to begin work on major road schemes.
'We need a modern and fair process for making decisions about big infrastructure projects such as new airports, runways and roads,' said Byers. 'These projects are essential for our economic future but they are also often controversial because they affect the lives of people living near the planned project.'
PFjul2001
