A NATIONAL pressure group that is based in Radcliffe has criticised a proposed shake-up of planning policies by the Government.

The Campaign for Planning Sanity (CfPS) described the Government's Green Paper on planning as "potentially one of the most destructive instruments proposed by the Government on the rights of every resident to have a positive say in the development of their communities".

CfPS chairman Mr Chris Maile, of Outwood Road, said: "While there are a few good nuggets within the proposal, such as a more robust policing of planning controls, the majority of the proposals eat away the few rights that local communities now have on making representations about what they perceive as adverse developments."

He fears it will result in the introduction of large-scale areas of damaging development, where few controls would be put in place.

And although he accepts that improvements within the planning system are well overdue, Mr Maile said the proposals fail miserably to understand the needs of communities affected by adverse developments.

He added: "Communities must not only have a say, but they must also know that what they are saying is seriously being taken on board, and not simply being paid lip service."