Derek Wilson, Chair, Maidenhead Civic Society
Our society constantly responds to planning applications monthly, expressing views and concerns about local development schemes. However, the local planning authority does not consider the Civic Society a statutory consultee within the planning process.
This should not be the case. Maidenhead Civic Society was created to allow the expression of views to be heard through local planning officers and for them to consider some of the comments in their determination of planning applications.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are changing the ways Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) consult with third-party organisations and dropping some of the consultees from those that are consulted in the planning process.
Some years ago, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) enabled proper consultation with local heritage societies within the towns of Maidenhead, Windsor, and Eton, and included local architect groups to be involved in the future development within the Borough. This was a key group that met every 6 months to assist in looking at future development schemes, and through this group, changes could be suggested by the local heritage groups and architects to ensure the right sort of development could take place for the benefit of the local community.
Nowadays, with this lack of consultation and the steer from the Ministry, the LPA are not interested in comments being made from the various groups that they should be embracing to encourage better developments to be built within the local community.
Within another county, the LPA is no longer going to publish on their planning portal comments from local residents or groups that do not apply to their list of statutory consultees. These consultees will normally consist of the Environment Agency, Natural England, English Heritage, and the Highways Agency.
We have an important voice within our local community to preserve our local heritage within the area. We would like RBWM to reconsider their approach and be a pathfinder authority to re-establish a group of ‘like-minded’ organisations to be consulted on future development schemes that will impact future generations. This should consist of Maidenhead Civic Society, other heritage groups and local architects, as everybody has a stake in the town they live in.