| Topic: | Re:Failure to Display Public Notice on Planning Application | |
| Posted by: | Steven Pawlyk | |
| Date/Time: | 20/09/21 00:05:00 |
| I've got an important point to make - I think. Bear with me. Whenever you buy something on the Internet - even something insignificant like batteries or printer cartridges, or my missus gets her face cream from Boots - you get an email confirming your purchase, often you get an email informing you that the order is being handled in the warehouse, then you get an email telling you the order's been dispatched - THEN the delivery company sends you an email telling you the expected date/time which sometimes even contains a link whereby you can track the delivery van's progress on a map, with "You are Delivery No. 65, the van is on delivery No. 32, expect to be with you at X". I think we all recognize this no? But with these planning applications - which can have a massive affect on the biggest investment people ever make in their lives - their property (flat or house) - which they usually spend most of their adult lives paying off the mortgage - they get ... yellow notices? That might or might not be there? And anyhow - who has time to pound the streets looking at / for those? Its few. Everybody's working hard, looking after families, often very busy with life stress, maybe illness comes along etc etc. Its all head down rush rush rush. Modern living. It cuts no slack. You miss the deadlines? (the ones you didn't even know about) - you're stuffed. To my mind this is undemocratic, certainly not inclusive. Its practically willful negligence. So here's what I'm thinking: EMAIL!! They have all your names on the council database - mostly with Email addresses. Once a planning application is received, the system can automatically work out all the local neighbours & local residents, and send an email to them. Email can even be sent which automatically send a response to the sender when you open / read it - so they know you've received it. And that can be automatically registered at the Council. So they can send an email with the details of the planning application or links - including information about what you can do / what your rights are. If using the "Read Response" method - the Council could even send a further Reminder email, if you don't read it within say, 10 days or so. The address & brief description of the proposal must be in the Subject line. At every stage of the planning process - application made, decision reached, going to committee etc etc - they can automatically send an email. And for those few who don't have email - they send post. Especially if they're worried about the cost of paper & stamps. (!!) And for the planning officers it'd be easy - they just press a button - the system does it all for them. I mean come on. This is the 21st Century right? |