Two excellent articles about what to do about unpopular development

In today's Observer, there are two very interesting articles. One of them What if its in your backyard is about how to fight planning decisions that you disagree with.

It makes several useful points, amongst which are:

Know your rights about access to information: if the matter has anyting remotely to do with the environment, which includes almost all planning applications, ensure that your request for information is being dealt with under the Environmental Information Regulations, rather than the Freedom of Information Act.

Don't accept photocopying charges of more than 10p per copy - "It's not lawful to charge much more".

It goes on to tell the case of a group of only 5 residents in Nidderdale who, dissatisfied with a decision to develop a psychiatric hospital in their area, raised £15,000 and were successful with a judicial review which halted the plans. Another planning application has been put in, which they intend to take as far as necessary again.

The other article - "The stage is set for urban renewal" tells the story of a Development Trust which bought up properties with the aid of grants from the Arts Council, the Wales Lottery Fund and the Welsh Assembly and turned them into arts and community venues.

The article starts: "Gwyn Roberts drove past a dilapidated theatre in Bangor, north Wales, one day in the 1990s and wondered how it was that an area with such a rich tradition of entertainment had ended up without an arts venue .... " It goes on to tell how they have bought and renovated 20 properties so far and its latest project - the community arts centre - was opened by Bryn Terfel last year. It makes its money from, amongst other things, renting space to 27 local businesses involved with the arts. The Trust how has a paid staff of more than 40 people.

So, ask yourself now: Which town in East Devon now has no arts facility, no indoor sports facility, no community centre, no youth club? And then ask yourself which East Devon towns have ALL these facilities - and even swimming pools? No prizes for correct answers.

Food for thought.