Dear John,

As someone who values the countryside, I’m emailing you to ask if you can help us make sure that local voices are heard in planning decisions.

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill is making its way through Parliament — and it could have a big impact on your local area. It would take power away from local planning committees and give more control to overstretched planning teams, cutting out the voices of the people who live there. These committees are one of the few ways communities can speak directly to councillors about things that really matter — from green spaces and traffic to the character of your neighbourhood.

Please email your MP and ask them to stand up for these important committees.

Instead of including community participation, the bill could also make it easier for developers to back out of commitments to build affordable homes or respect local design standards.

I don't need to convince you that shutting people like you out of decision-making is not good for democracy or planning for the future of your community. You already know this as well as I do.

The planning system works best when local people can have a say – we need more community input, not less.

This is a critical moment.

Please will you email your MP and let them know that you want local planning committees to be guaranteed a say about the most important local planning issues?

Thank you,

Ed Molyneux
Public Affairs Manager