news story

20th June 2007

Local MP Challenges Ministers Over Planning Enforcement at South Glos. Quarry

Click here to read the debate

Northavon MP Steve Webb has spoken out at Westminster over failures in the planning system which have allowed a local quarry to operate for years in breach of planning regulations. On Tuesday (19th June) the MP led a debate which he had initiated on the way in which breaches in planning are sometimes allowed to continue for long periods because a new planning application is under consideration.

His concern over the issue was prompted by the case of Wickwar Quarry which is extracting over 750,000 tonnes of limestone a year when its existing permission only allows for 400,000 tonnes. The quarry is also starting work earlier in the morning than is allowed under the existing consents.

Now the quarry has put in a series of planning applications which would 'regularise' the situation, but while those applications are being considered, South Gloucestershire Council has said it would not be sensible to take enforcement action over existing breaches.

During the debate, Lib Dem MP Steve Webb said that it was vital that residents had faith in the planning system, and that breaches could not simply be allowed to continue unchecked. He read out excerpts from letters from residents who felt that the planning system was being abused because of the long-term lack of enforcement action. But he welcomed the fact that because of the present discussions, the quarry were now taking urgent steps to improve relations with the local community and were seeking to address issues such as noise and dust associated with the present level of operation.

MPs of all parties contributed to the debate and brought their own examples of where the planning system was being flouted. Several pointed out that the recent White Paper on planning had very little discussion of the important issue of planning enforcement.

The debate was replied to by local government minister Phil Woolas MP who said that Steve Webb's debate would make an important contribution to their thinking about these issues. He said that local authorities did have the power to enforce planning conditions even when new applications were pending, but that Government guidance was that this might not be the best strategy if things would soon be resolved in any case.

Commenting after the debate, Steve Webb said:

"Growing numbers of my constituents feel that the planning system is not working as it should. My view is that if planning conditions are attached to a development then they need to be honoured and enforced - otherwise the whole system will fall into disrepute.

"Whilst the minister did not promise any immediate change in the rules, I believe that raising this issue at the highest level will help to ensure that planning enforcement is given proper weight in any future legislation in this area".