Make developers pay (From Oxford Mail)

Make developers pay

10:00am Monday 13th February 2012 in Letters

I AM writing in response to your front page article about planning application notifications not being sent out to people living nearby, meaning many people only know of a development when the builders move in (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail).

I understand the need for the city council to save money but surely this is a false economy if it breeds contempt and suspicion of planning applications and local authorities?

Not everyone has access to a computer and even those who do should not have to search the Internet on a regular basis for information which everyone expects to come through their letterbox.

Why can’t the planning officers still produce the necessary documentation and send it out to the relevant people with the full cost of this service being paid for by the person or business applying for planning permission?

Surely, if they can afford to extend or start a new development from scratch, they can pay to inform the local residents?

JILL CUMMINGS, London Road, Headington, Oxford