February 11, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
Government sets sights on green belts
Worrying development that undermines the protection of our green belt land…
A government amendment to the Planning Bill could see planning powers transferred from local authorities to Regional Development Agencies(RDAs).
The amendment, tabled by local government minister John Healy, would see RDAs, quangos whose members are appointed by the government and are accountable to the communities secretary, take the final decision on green belt developments.
Eric Pickles, shadow communities secretary, said: “This will put the fate of thousands of acres of green belt into the hands of quangos that are likely to say ‘Yes’.”
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