§ 47. Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1976 in order to provide an effective consultation procedure for those local residents likely to be adversely affected under planning proposals made by a local authority.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI do not think that additional legal requirments would be appropriate. A balance must always 127W be struck between the need for expeditious decision-making by local planning authorities on behalf of the community and the need to give individuals opportunity to express their views. Consultation and publicity beyond what is at present required by law is best left to the local authority's discretion.