Government Must Not Be Allowed To Bulldoze Through Plans For New Eco-Town

3.32.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Dec 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has expressed fears that Government may try to bulldoze through proposals for a new eco-town at Throckmorton Airfield by using new powers proposed under the Planning Reform Bill.

The Bill, contained in the recent Queen's Speech will allow Government to short circuit the planning process for major planning decisions, denying local people the opportunity to have their say through a planning enquiry.

Richard Burt said: "A new eco-town at Throckmorton Airfield would have a profound effect on Pershore, Evesham and South Worcestershire. It would be a travesty if plans for a new town were bulldozed through without the opportunity for a local public enquiry to provide for a thorough airing of people's views.

"It seems Government is hell bent on creating a Planning Commission with new powers to short-circuit the planning process to reach major decisions more quickly.

"Opposition MPs must guard against a Planning Commission whose decisions would be less democratic, less transparent and less representative of local communities' views."