Content © Stopwoodlanewindfarm 2008 - 2011
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222,879 people signed the National Trust petition opposing planning reform which would make development easier in the country. |
Wind turbines are as well as, not instead of the power stations
The petition is now closed.
The letter below was sent to people who signed the petition organised by the National Trust.
The letter includes a link to the recommendation submitted to the Government by the National Trust.
Dear Supporter,
Thank you for signing the Planning for People petition.
On Monday, the last day of the Government’s consultation on proposed reforms to our planning system, we went to Downing Street to give the Government our recommendations, backed by an astonishing 210,000 signatures on our petition.
Thanks to people like you, we’ve drawn attention to an important issue that threatens our countryside. When the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was launched in July, there was a big chance that it would go unnoticed. Between us, we’ve made sure it didn’t.
What needs to change?
The draft NPPF sets out to simplify our current planning system and to give local people a greater say in planning in their area. These are good aims. In the process, though, it puts economic goals first in any consideration of planning. It suggests using our planning system as an engine for growth. We want to see a much more balanced document that gives equal weight to social, environmental, and economic needs.
What have we achieved?
So as well as raising awareness of the issue, we’ve begun a national debate over the purpose of the planning system. The Prime Minister has confirmed to us that it should be balanced between those social, environmental and economic needs. This is just the start – we need the next draft of the NPPF to reflect that. It should be published in the New Year.
What's next?
We'll continue to keep the pressure on those now reviewing the NPPF, and you can help too. Please do write to your MP to share your concerns. The consultation may be closed, but Ministers are now considering the thousands of responses they have received, so you can let them know you care about the outcome.
Thank you, once again, for your support.
Andrew, James, Ingrid, Ben, Ian, Tamasine, Kate, Rob, Holly, Cass, Sarah and Claire
The Planning for People team