Campaigns

We try to persuade decision-makers to change certain policies and practices by meeting with them, exposing issues in the media, building coalitions of like-minded organisations and mobilising the civic society movement.

LATEST CAMPAIGN NEWS

LETTER TO RUTH KELLY - 11th June 2007
The Civic Trust, along with other members of the coalition against the Planning White Paper, have signed a letter to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State, detailing our concerns about elements of the Paper. The letter calls for a meeting between Ruth Kelly and coalition members, who between them, represent the views of around 2.3 million people. To download the letter, please click here. For more information about the coalition, please see below.


GOVERNMENT CALLED ON TO PROTECT RIGHTS IN THE PLANNING SYSTEM

The Barker Review of Land Use Planning was commissioned by the Treasury as a review of the UK's planning system, primarily focusing on the link between planning and economic growth. The Civic Trust has greeted many of the recommendations with great concern, as the majority of these focus on reforming the planning system for the benefit of businesses and developers. This may have implications for the protection of the built and natural environments and for local communities. Our key concerns include:

- The reduction of public involvement in inquiries in order to speed up major projects
- Increased domination of supermarkets in town centres at the expense of local shops
- The reduction of people ’s right to have a say in planning proposals for in their area
- That wildlife, habitats and green belts under threat from development

To read more about the Review and the Civic Trust's views, please click here. For the Civic Trust's full response to the Barker Review, please click here.

Our latest Policy e-newsletter is dedicated to the implications of the Barker Review. To download a copy, please click here.

OTHER COALITION NEWS

The Coalition has produced a document, "Making Planning Better", which is a statement on our shared vision for why planning matters, what's wrong with Barker and Eddington's planning proposals, and what we would like to see, or not, in the proposed Planning White Paper. To read the statement, please click here.

The Civic Trust has joined the RSPB, CPRE, Friends of the Earth, Woodlands Trust, Ramblers Association, Wildlife Trust, Transport 2000 and the RTPI to form a coalition to campaign against the recommendations of the Barker Review. A website has been launched to allow the public to email their concern to Gordon Brown or their local MP. The coalition believes that the Chancellor should:

- Ensure that major projects such as roads or nuclear power stations are decided with local input, democratic accountability, and in the framework of sustainable development.
- Support local shops and town centres by retaining and strengthening the needs assessment requirement.
- Ensure sustainable development principles guide development so that wildlife, habitats and greenbelt are protected, regeneration is encouraged and town centres remain vibrant.
- Safeguard people’s right to have a say in local plans by retaining and strengthening the issues and options discussion at the beginning of local plans, and funding greater positive participation in planning.

The coalition has issued a press release stating their concerns and encouraging people to visit www.planningdisaster.co.uk to join the campaign.

Please click on the tabs to the left to find out more about our other campaigns.

Updated 13.06.07

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