Labour to oppose new planning charge

The Labour Party will fight "tooth and nail" any proposals to impose a charge on citizens commenting on or objecting to a planning application, according to Labour's Environment Spokesperson, Mr Eamon Gilmore.

"From the 1st January next anyone who wishes to object to any aspect of a planning application will have to pay a fee of £16. This new charge is the brainchild of Environment Minister Noel Dempsey.

"Minister Dempsey has circulated draft regulations designed to introduce the charge to members of the Dáil's Environment Committee. The Committee will consider the regulations in September and the new charge will be opposed by the Labour Party," Mr Gilmore said.

Mr Gilmore maintains that the charge is undemocratic. "It is basically a new tax which citizens have to pay for exercising a democratic right. It's sole aim is to reduce the number of objections and exclude ordinary citizens from the planning process."

Referring to a "huge increase in development", Mr Gilmore said: "the Labour Party believes that local communities should have every opportunity to have their views heard. The imposition of a charge is a direct assault on this principle.

"Minister Dempsey seems intent on excluding people from the planning process and creating a system whereby the size of your cheque book has more sway than the strength of your argument," he said.

"If the regulations are passed any comment or objection to a planning application which is not accompanied by a cheque for £16 will be ignored.

"This is yet another assault on local democracy by Minister Dempsey who recently rammed legislation through Dáil Éireann which excludes local communities and their public representatives from decisions regarding waste management," said Mr Gilmore.