Foster called on to investigate Planning Inspectors

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th May 2004

Bath Councillor Caroline Roberts has written to Lib Dem MP Don Foster asking him to investigate whether Government Planning Inspectors have changed the rules and are letting through planning appeals that were correctly turned down by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Cllr Caroline Roberts (Liberal Democrat; Newbridge), says:

"Over the last year or so several planning appeals in or around my ward have received the backing of the Government Planning Inspector despite this being against the wishes of local people, the local Council or local planning guidance.

"With ever increasing pressure on Councils and Planning Inspectors to build more and more housing I am concerned that the Government have secretly changed the goal posts so as to allow inappropriate developments through.

"I have now written to Don Foster asking him if he can bring this up with the Government direct and confront them on why they are failing to uphold the decisions of the local authority that have been made correctly within planning guidance."

Cllr Caroline Roberts has written to Don Foster following several decisions in and around the Newbridge ward. Where the Council had refused the applications to protect employment and parking facilities, as laid out within the local plan, Government planning inspectors seemed to

have ignored this and simply given developers the green light.

This has happened recently at the Horstmann Gears site on Newbridge Rd and on the Unite site on Lower Bristol Road. The Horstmann Gears site was approved by an Inspector but was to retain some employment through office accommodation and parking. But another decision by the Planning Inspectorate has now even removed this, simply replacing it with more flats. The Unite development has seen the Inspector allow a large development of student housing against the wishes of the Council.

Contact: Cllr Caroline Roberts on 01225 336366.

Or if you cannot get the above contact Tim on 01225 477419 or on

07776 437161 for assistance.