Sandra White, SNP MSP for Glasgow has today, (Wednesday) resubmitted her Members Bill which seeks to introduce a Third Party Right of Appeal (TPRA) to the planning process.

The Bill was originally submitted in September 2003 and went out to consultation for three months, with the results being collated at the end of November of that year. As Sandra was preparing to move forward with the Bill, the Executive announced their intention to initiate a consultation on planning which would include a detailed examination of TPRA. This announcement meant that Sandra could not proceed with her Bill as she would be denied parliamentary help with the drafting.

The Executive consultation has now come to an end and no progress has been made with the implementation of TPRA. It is for this reason that Sandra has re-lodged her Bill for the consideration of the Parliament

Commenting, Ms White said:

"It is vitally important that we have fairness and transparency at the heart of the planning process. The current system does not allow communities or individuals the same rights as the planning applicants in terms of appealing decisions of the local planning body and this must be addressed.

"Friends of the Earth Scotland accused the Scottish Executive of mounting "a massive spin operation to cover up their sell-out to developers" after it was revealed that the Executive are not planning to proceed with TPRA. The Scottish Executive plans to centralise the planning process are extremely concerning and it is imperative that we have open-ness, fairness and transparency at the heart of the planning process.

It seems that the Scottish Executive consultation on planning was merely an attempt to kick the issue of community rights of appeal into the long grass. I think it has been forced onto the back burner for long enough and I have been contacted by many members of the public who are extremely supportive of my proposed Bill."