COUNCIL TO BAN PAPER PLANS

12.04.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Oct 2007

Lib Dem Councillors are calling on Kirklees Council to continue to provide public access to paper copies of planning applications. The Planning Service intends to scrap access to paper plans.

Lib Dem Councillors are calling on Kirklees Council to continue to provide public access to paper copies of planning applications. The Planning Service intends to scrap access to paper plans.

Cllr Andrew Pinnock said: "At the moment paper copies of plans are available in various town halls across Kirklees. This means residents who want to see planning application details can simply go to their nearest Town hall, or library, and have a look."

The Planning service are now suggesting that there be no paper copies of planning applications available to the public but instead people must use the Library and Information Centres across Kirklees and use computers to view all planning applications. Although Cllr Andrew Pinnock agrees electronic viewings are suitable for many people, there is a real risk that some residents will be disenfranchised by the proposed changes.

"When there are large and complicated planning applications it is very difficult to see the detail, and context, on a small screen. I can totally understand that smaller applications for extensions are fine, but for big, complex plans, I think paper copies should still be deposited at the town halls and Civic Centre 3, in Huddersfield."

"We must ensure that residents, who are our top priority, are able to take a full role in planning applications which affect their communities. I urge the Conservative Cabinet to re-think this crazy decision"