Campaigners fear “David and Goliath” Local Plan planning battle

WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter has written to the Planning Inspectorate seeking clear guidance on the forthcoming “Examination in Public” of Warrington’s Local Plan after campaigners said they were facing a David and Goliath situation.

Campaigners from the Rethinking South Warrington’s Future (RSWF) – a political alliance of resident and community groups from across South Warrington that came together in 2017 when the Borough Council’s first version of the Local Plan was published, fear they will not be given a fair hearing by the Planning Inspectorate.

Since their formation, the group has spoken up for local people by responding to every consultation on the Local Plan, The Stobarts planning application, Six/56, the Transport Plan LPT/4 etc etc.
The group has always tried to make sure that residents are properly informed about Warrington Borough Council’s plans and has widely shared information about how to respond to consultations via social media and by raising funds and distributing literature at street surgeries.

RSWF Chair Sally Chisholm said: “With the soon-to-start Examination in Public it feels like we have reached a crucial point, but the group continues to be knocked back by the Inspector. We are told that the Inspector has decided our previous submissions do not “qualify” us to contribute to all of the sessions we wish to be represented at. The suggestion is that if our previous consultation responses did not cover these matters then we will not be allowed to put forward the voices of local residents for those topics. We are repeatedly being asked to demonstrate why we should be eligible.
“Quite simply we are the local people who live here and will be impacted by the Local Plan. In our opinion we believe this should automatically give us a seat at the table on the most import aspects of the plan. This is particularly true as when looking at the list of participants for each of the sessions RSWF wish to attend there is often a heavy bias towards developers. We also disagree that our previous submissions do not contain points relevant to all the sessions we wish to attend but the requirement seems to be for us to demonstrate this rather the Planning Inspector’s team reading our original consultation responses.

“We have suggested to the Inspector that there should be a balance of voices at the table but the Inspector’s office has said “ Unfortunately participation cannot be granted on the basis of trying to get a balance of participation. The examination process is open to all and participation is granted on having made a relevant representation during the consultation period and then requesting to participate in that session.”
“RSWF have gently reminded the Inspector that we are a group of “ordinary” residents, with professional, family and other responsibilities, we have met all of the deadlines and requirements of the Inspection Process to date. Developers, in particular, appear to have employed professional consultants and lawyers to represent them who, will be able to meet requests for information, supply contact details etc as part of their paid day jobs.
“RSWF feel this is a true David and Goliath situation where the voice of local residents is not being allowed to be heard at some of the key sessions of the Examination in Public. Our only hope can be that our persistence pays off and like David, the views of South Warrington’s residents is allowed to prevail.”

Mr Carter said: “Having been part of RSWF from the early days, I’ve seen that the group has provided incredibly helpful insight and advice to local residents on how to comment on local planning proposals.
“For anyone coming to the process for the first time the inquiry can appear confusing and heavily in favour of professionals with experience of the process. This should not be the case – the playing field should be level, the views of residents matter and you shouldn’t have to hire a barrister to get your views across.
“I’ve written to the CEO of the Planning Inspectorate to ask his organisation to provide clear guidance to anyone intending to speak and to provide assurances that the independent inspector will take the time to assist and guide non-professional witnesses who wish to comment.”