MP “gravely concerned” over Planning Bill

 Joan Walley MP has spoken of her concerns over a new amendment to the Planning Bill.

 Tabled by Clive Betts MP the amendment to clause 151 seeks to remove the public right of redress over nuisance resulting from infrastructure building projects.  Currently statutory immunity exists only under extraordinary circumstances, such as when building airports, but the Bill seeks to extend this far beyond its current use and Ms Walley claims this will have far reaching and damaging effects on the environment.  Ms Walley, who is honorary President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and whose concerns are shared by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is calling upon the Government to set out during the committee stage which starts today how the new legislation can safeguard nuisance controls. 

 In a response to Ms Walley dated 2^nd October the Government has indicated that it is minded to avoid such concerns, she commented “given the advanced stage of the legislation these now need to be tabled and discussed in detail with professionals responsible for safeguarded public health.

 When deciding upon infrastructure projects it is essential that public nuisance and environmental concerns are taken into account.  The amendment that was added at a late stage in the Commons offers the public no right of redress and offers no provision for compensating those affected.  It also greatly skews the essence of reasonable environmental protection and is tantamount to a licence to pollute.”