Planning
Local area Planning
Responsibility for planning i.e. the development of new housing, alterations, extensions and commercial development lies with the Department of Environment’s Planning Service.
The procedure allows for Council to have a consultative role only and the final decisions are made by the Planning Service themselves.
If the Council is not satisfied with the planners decision they may refer the application to the Management Board of the Planning Service but their decision usually supports the Planning Service.
Recent changes in the procedure mean that Council really have very little scope to change the Planners minds.
This is most unacceptable particularly when the decisions of the Planning Service are often inconsistent with their own regulations and guidelines.
I find the matter most frustrating and have been appalled at some of the decisions which they have made, despite strong and reasoned objections from me.
Any little shred of democracy in this process is now very doubtful and I believe that the only solution is to return local planning and development control to locally elected people.
The Review of Public Administration has recognised the problems and have proposed that such action should be taken when the Councils are reformed.
Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan
A new development blue print is being prepared for the Belfast Metropolitan Area and will include the six council areas around Belfast Lough. The draft has been published and has been open to consultation.
The indications are that North Down will remain much the same with no significant changes.
A Transport Plan has also been prepared for the region that provides nothing in the way of improved infrastructure or innovation. This is regrettable as North Down suffers from heavy transport on its roads and the A2 section from Bangor to Belfast is the busiest road of its kind in Northern Ireland.
This matter needs to be revisited and the whole issue of transport, car parking, roads and the one- way system around Bangor need to be radically changed.
I believe we need a motorway from Bangor to Belfast to encourage employment and the relocation of business in our community.
Local Development Control
This work is again the responsibility of the Planning Service and involves implementing the Regional Development Strategy.
In practice it means that when new planning applications are being considered there is a predisposition to increase the density of housing.
The result is the despoliation of our built environment with back garden development and town cramming.
I, along with other colleagues on the Council have been pushing Government for the establishment of townscape and conservation areas that will afford protection to our beautiful old buildings and Victorian heritage.
We have achieved some success already. For example, Princetown and Ballyholme Areas in Bangor, and a conservation area in Holywood.
However, more remains to be achieved.
Planning Appeals
An applicant who is not satisfied with a decision of the Planning Service may appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission.
This is a small board of senior planners who review a specific case and adjudicate upon it. Their decision is binding.
A third party under existing Legislation has no rights of appeal but they may be represented at the Hearing.
The Council on occasions will attend an appeal if it believes that the particular application is of significant interest to the ratepayers in general.
I have attended appeals in the past and will continue to represent the views of those who appear to have a relevant case for appeal.
