Have your say on planning shake-up

TIME is running out for the public to have their say on possible changes to the way controversial planning applications are advertised.

At the moment, councils are required by law to put adverts in newspapers like the Advertiser when certain kinds of plans are up for discussion, but the Government is consulting on the possibility of changing the rules.

In future, Rotherham Borough Council and other local authorities may only have to advertise applications on the Internet for three weeks and not through other outlets—a move which critics fear could allow them to "hide" unpopular plans and could also damage newspapers' income.

The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is currently consulting on the proposed changes, which could save up to £10 million, and the deadline for comments to be submitted is next Friday (23).

The Government is proposing that certain types of applications—those considered major developments and those affecting listed buildings or conservation areas—no longer be required to be advertised in newspapers, although site notices relating to them would be displayed for three weeks instead of one.

Comments on the proposals should be sent to:Publicity Applications

Communities and Local Government, Floor 1, Zone A1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1 5DU or by email to: [email protected].

For more information on the consultation, visit www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/consultationpublicity.