Reversal on planning is disturbing

I WAS most disappointed to read in last week s Crow that North Herts District Council will no longer determine planning applications at local area meetings. Despite living in East Herts, I admired North Herts idea that planning applications should be dec

I WAS most disappointed to read in last week's Crow that North Herts District Council will no longer determine planning applications at local area meetings.

Despite living in East Herts, I admired North Herts' idea that planning applications should be decided locally by the people affected by the decisions, who know the area, what it needs and, more importantly, what it does not need, and who know the wishes of the electorate.

I had hoped that East Herts District Council could adopt this system, or perhaps more power given to Buntingford Town Council so that it could make planning decisions. After all, it is town councillors who are closest to the electorate and know what is best for the town.

But now North Herts has gone back to a system of making planning decisions outside the area affected by those decisions - a somewhat disturbing reversal and one which I do not understand.

DEBBIE LEMAY

Monks Walk, Buntingford