Letter: I Am Glad Councillor Will Now Withdraw from Committee Decision on Wisley Planning Application

Published on: 23 Oct, 2022
Updated on: 23 Oct, 2022

From: David Roberts

In response to: I Will Withdraw From the Planning Committee for Wisley Application, Says Councillor

Just for the record, Cllr Brothwell’s original letter was not to me but to one of my neighbours, who copied it to others.

I am glad Cllr Brothwell has recused herself from the Wisley decision, though one wonders why she is on the Planning Committee at all if she finds it so soul-destroying, and what exactly forced her to vote in favour of developments she claims to hate.

Councillors are not expected to understand every detail of Britain’s byzantine planning system but to exercise common sense and good judgement about big issues such as sustainability and infrastructure provision. It is for council officers and lawyers then to supply the arguments needed to win any challenge, not to dictate planning decisions in advance.

I hope Cllr Brothwell’s substitute on the planning committee will take the Wisley application more seriously. To date, there are 465 documents and 980 public comments to read, including 965 objections. These will require a solid week’s work from each committee member.

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