In the dark over plans (From Oxford Mail)

In the dark over plans

PEOPLE don’t know what is going on in their own backyards since planning letters were controversially scrapped, it was claimed last night.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Peter Thompson

Just 951 people in Oxford have signed up to receive email notifications about planning applications – about 0.6 per cent of the city’s population.

Oxford City Council scrapped publicising planning applications by sending out letters to neighbours last April, saving an estimated £45,000 a year.

Applications are instead flagged up on its Planningfinder website.

But a Freedom of Information request showed as of January 26, only 951 people had signed up to the site out of a population of more than 150,000 people.

Steve Nicholls

Headington resident Stephanie Jenkins said: “People don’t seem to know any more about what is happening in their own backyard.

“The sad thing is that the facility is superb, and you can track applications and get updates automatically sent to you.

“It needs more publicity.”

In 2010, Oxford City Council sent out 17,753 letters to neighbours about applications such as extensions and developments.

Cherwell District Council also scrapped its notification letters at the same time, saving the authority around £80,000 a year.

The only way residents in north Oxfordshire can now find out about applications is through local press and on notices around the sites in question, or by registering on the Cherwell District Council website to receive updates about applications.

Its planning page, which users go through to get to planning applications, had 3,355 in December.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Peter Thompson said: “We think it is regrettable that planning information is not made more widely available or easily available.

“I think overall there would have been an increase in the number of people who are more in the dark than they were before.”

Residents can register on the Planningfinder website to search for applications near their home or register to receive updates for up to 10 postcodes. They will then receive emails about applications and updates on those areas.

Kidlington resident Steve Nicholls was last year stunned to learn a house was being built behind his garden fence.

The 51-year-old was unaware of the planning application until it had already been granted permission, after Cherwell District Council scrapped sending out letters.

Last night he said: “This was a bungalow surrounded by houses and it would have been nice to have a say in it.

“You just get on with your life and think nothing is going to change, but then one day you wake up with the builders in your back garden.

“And then it’s too late.”

He added: “Some people don’t even have computers. The council tells us to go to the library, but you’re not going to traipse down there every day on the off chance someone is building in your area.”

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We have one of the largest user numbers for Oxford Planningfinder in the country.

“We have promoted it in Your Oxford which is distributed to every home in the city. A press release was also sent out to the local media.

“We would welcome more people to sign up to this useful tool as it enables residents to keep up to date with planning applications.”

South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire still send letters informing residents of nearby planning applications.

To sign up to Planningfinder, see: planning01.oxford.gov.uk/page/home