MEMBERS of Neilston and Uplawmoor community councils have also recently
raised concerns about accessing important planning documents.
The revelation that an elected member of the planning committee has also
encountered difficulties accessing information has not gone down well.
Uplawmoor resident Aileen Jackson, who has written to councillors detailing
her own personal concerns about accessing planning documents, said: “Given
my experience at the planning office and my concerns raised with
councillors, the actions of Cllr Stewart Miller at Wednesday’s planning
committee meeting are justified. If there was any doubt in his mind that he
had not been supplied with all relevant documentation and representations
then he was right to abstain.”
The News previously documented Ms Jackson’s concerns which she says became
more pronounced when she attempted to access papers at the planning office.
She explained: “I supplied the admin assistant with three reference numbers
to applications which I wished to view. I was not asked if I wished to see
them on a computer and was supplied with hard copies.
“The only representations contained in the first file were those from
Neilston and Uplawmoor community councils and one other resident of
Uplawmoor. My own was missing as well as others which I knew had been
submitted by neighbours.
“When I queried the missing representations I was told I would have to make
an appointment if I wished to view them. The entire visit took 90 minutes
and involved a considerable amount of work for the admin assistant, which
begs the obvious question about time saving. I certainly find this new
policy, inconvenient, time consuming and costly and I believe it will
hinder citizens becoming involved in the planning process which, as we all
know, benefits from public engagement. Transparency is absolutely critical
in all aspects of the planning process and I was dismayed by my discoveries.”
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