2 December 2011 – Following George Osborne’s comments on the government’s proposed changes to UK planning laws and plans to weaken the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, Keith has sent the following letter to The Telegraph:

Re: ‘Countryside at risk under latest plans to downgrade planning laws’, 29 November 2011

Sir,

I am deeply concerned to read of George Osborne’s plans, announced this week, to weaken the UK’s implementation of the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives which protect important wild habitats and species.

His announcement in the Autumn Statement that the government would ensure that “compliance with the Habitats and Wild Birds Directive does not lead to unnecessary costs and delays to development” and that it would make sure that “gold plating of EU rules on things like habitats aren’t placing ridiculous costs on British businesses” is a predictable next step for a government intent on dishing up juicy opportunities to corporate interests. I have already raised concerns that the government’s proposed changes to our planning system, the National Planning Policy Framework, are likely to threaten EU protected sites and the wider natural environment. We must not show such blatant disregard for the UK’s obligations to comply with European laws which protect these vital sites.

The UK parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee recently criticised the government‘s proposals for changes to the planning system stating in a letter to the Prime Minister that the new planning laws “will have to make it clearer that the drive for economic growth does not trump other sustainability requirements.”  A government consultation on the issues has received around 16,000 representations demonstrating that this is an issue, like the proposed forest sell-off earlier this year, about which the British public care deeply. Does the government not see that it needs to listen to voices seeking to achieve real sustainable development, rather than just its friends in big business?

Yours sincerely,

Keith Taylor

Green MEP for South East England