Better Access to Development Planning Documents

Consideration of Development Planning in our society under the Town & Country Planning Act is a vital process. Not everyone understands it or takes advantage of the possibilities of influencing Planning decisions. Access to information about Planning issues has up to now been restricted to those who can visit specific Council Offices to consult the relevant files or attend the Planning Committee Meetings. The advent of the world-wide web (of which this Blog is a part) offers a very important opportunity for all people, including disabled people to participate in the Planning process which is an essential part of local democracy. As an active campaigner in Brighton & Hove and nationally, I welcome this development. I therefore have asked my local Planning Department at Brighton & Hove City Council about making full availability of Planning Documents. I am pleased to say that I have had encouraging news as a result of my enquiry. It appears that as part of a national initiative called e-planning which has been undertaken by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (the Government Department that oversees all Planning matters), more comprehensive information will be put online. I find this information most encouraging and I will not be the only one watching out for progress later this this year !