The planning system ought to be based on some basic universal and long lasting democratic rights for citizens to be heard, participate in and shape the planning system and its decisions. Those rights should transcend the political priorities of government, especially now, when politicians will claim the need to act swiftly in emergencies, yet are only reinforcing the essentially undemocratic forces which shape the places where we live, over which we have no say or control, and the consequences of which may last for a generation eg. we are going to start fracking again!

We need to support this Charter and to do the same in our own local authority.

https://www.appropedia.org/Towards_a_more_democratic_and_climate_friendly_way_of_meeting_housing_need_across_England

We live in a democracy. Why try to change this? Your children won’t thank you!