Councillor Chris Stephens Chair of Shaw and Crompton Parish Council Planning Committee wrote the following article. I have posted it on my web site as I think it will be of interest to you all.
Several residents have expressed concern regarding the general lack of information about planning processes within Oldham Borough.
It can be disconcerting to find that a neighbour, business, school, farm, or other organisation in your neighbourhood has applied for a planning application which may range from a simple house extension up to a major property development or significant business change/ implementation.
Concerns over privacy, loss of amenity, noise, additional traffic movements, parking and environmental issues often have a significant impact on resident’s lives.
The process of finding out about a planning application can appear to be disharmonised; the purpose of this article is to provide some basic information on the planning process.
Information about larger planning applications generally appears in the local press, particularly for those which may have a major impact on the local neighbourhood.
Applications which affect fewer residents, such as home or shop extensions, business change uses, are not necessarily widely publicised. Generally Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (OMBC) will send out notification letters to properties adjacent to the proposed application.
The letter will contain details of the planning application together with information where the plans may be inspected (usually the Civic Centre) and dates by which objections may be forwarded to OMBC.
However, OMBC are not obliged to send out letters but they do have an obligation to post a notice about a residential planning application adjacent to the property; this is generally a pink coloured notice often placed upon a lamppost outside the property.
If you see such a notice within your vicinity please ensure you take the time to read it. If you are concerned, or need advice, about the application it is recommended you contact a Parish or OMBC councillor about the issue as soon as possible.
All planning applications within the Parish of Shaw and Crompton are notified to the Parish Council.
A list of such applications is on display in the window of the Parish Council Office at 1 Kershaw Street East, Shaw.
Applications are on display for only about 1 week prior to the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting.
Residents are able to make representation to the Parish Council; public participation is encouraged as views from people living and working in the area are important to the decision making process.
Dates and times of meetings are displayed in the Parish Council office. Members of the public wishing to speak on a planning issue should advise the clerk of the Parish Council prior to the meeting.
The Parish Planning Committee does not make a final decision on approval or rejection of an application but it makes a recommendation to OMBC on acceptance or refusal based on planning laws as well as taking into consideration any public representations.
OMBC may take into account the Parish recommendations when making their own decision on the application.
Members of the public are also permitted to make a presentation to OMBC Planning Committee on planning applications although only one person may speak against the application and only one may speak in support. Additionally a time limit is imposed on speakers at Borough planning meetings.
For further information on the planning process please contact Cllr Chris Stephens: 0775 296 8201 or the Parish Office 01706 847590.
Also further information on the planning process is available at:
http://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200351/planning