Lydd Airport and Dungeness - an update
April 8, 2010 1:37 PM
By Andre Farrar in RSPB Blog http://tinyurl.com/yjmythu
By Andre Farrar in RSPB Blog http://tinyurl.com/yjmythu
The Government Office for the South East (GOSE) has reported that they have been receiving many letters requesting that the applications for the expansion of Lydd Airport are called in for the Secretary of State to determine.
It's good news that the letters are flowing - and if you are one that's put pen to paper, thank you, thank you, thank you - your efforts are being noticed and we understand will be individually taken into account.
If you haven't written - and would like to, you can find out more at http://tinyurl.com/ygcmojp
GOSE have contacted us to say that they are not able to respond individually to each letter (though they welcome the interest in this issue) and have supplied the following message.
I refer to your recent letter asking the Secretary of State to call in the planning applications for development at Lydd Airport. The Secretary of State is currently considering whether or not to call in the applications and your comments and reasons for your requests will be taken into consideration.
You might find it useful to know that the Governments Policy on call-in was laid out in a written answer to Mr Bill Michie in Hansard 16 June 1999 by Richard Caborn. Mr Caborn said that the Secretary of State's general approach like that of previous Secretary of States', is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it is necessary to do so. Parliament has entrusted them with responsibility for the day to day planning control in their areas. It is right that in general they should be free to carry out their duties responsibly, with the minimum of interference.
There will be some occasions, however, when the Secretary of State may consider it necessary to call in the planning application to determine himself instead of leaving the decision to the local planning authority.
The Secretary of State's policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. He will in general, only take this step if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. Such cases may include for example, those which in his opinion:
• may conflict with national policies on important matters;
• could have significant effects beyond their immediate locality;
• give rise to substantial regional or national controversy;
• raise significant architectural and urban design issues; or
• may involve the interests of national security or of foreign Governments.
However, each case will continue to be considered on its individual merits.
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