Importance of the Local Plan

THE developer, Chelverton, has created much discussion with their plans for Lancaster. It is interesting that when cabinet made their decision on which developer to use for the Kingsway site, that decision was called in by the Labour group who were adamant that the only developer that should have been chosen was Chelverton. Both lan Barker and Abbott Bryning are now saying the plans are contrary to the Local Plan in many aspects. Meanwhile Coun Airey, the cabinet member for regeneration, is convinced that the council should not be blinkered by Local Plans.

That is worrying: Local Plans form the bedrock of planning development. They are prepared in detail with a great deal of input from planners, councillors, developers and residents. Without adherence to them there would be no guidance and no consistency in decision-making. This could easily lead to corruption and bad practice.

Another letter writer asks what are the Liberal Democrat views of the plans? At the moment there is no planning application submitted; ideas are being put forward and discussed. When these have some substance they will need to be looked at by officers and councillors in the light of the Local Plan, the Kingsway, the Canal Corridor North and South Development briefs and the Lancaster City Centre Strategy. We will then be adding our voice to the discussion.

The same letter writer talks of a coalition cabinet. There is no such thing in Lancaster.

The cabinet system, which was forced upon us by the Government, is made up of all groups based on proportion representation. It is only the Labour group who refused to take up their democratic responsibility

Coun Pat Quinton Leader