Stafford Council criticised for carrying on planning work during pandemic
Stafford Borough Council has been criticised for dealing with planning applications during the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite staff working from home, Staffordshire's district and borough councils, which deal with planning, are continuing to process applications and make decisions during lockdown.
The authorities are also consulting residents and relevant organisations on proposals.
Planning committees at authorities including Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire district councils have already started holding virtual meetings using telephone and video conferencing – and planning applications and documents can be viewed on council websites by members of the public.
Proposals put forward to Stafford Borough Council since the lockdown was announced in March include detailed landscaping plans for land south of Creswell Grove, next to the M6 Junction 14, on the edge of Stafford. The proposals include a balancing pond and temporary construction access and are part of the plans for a new business development, pub and hotel which were approved in May 2019.
But Creswell Grove resident Mike Craney, who has previously raised concerns about work taking place on the site, has hit out at the borough council for visiting the area to put up public notices about the application at a time when residents have been advised by the Government to stay at home unless they are making an essential journey to work, collect food or medicine or take one daily exercise session.
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He said: “A lot of companies are suspending non-urgent operations yet our council seems to have one half working from home and another who flout this rule by posting useless planning applications.
“The concern we have is because of your mindless actions you not only put yourselves in danger but risk also infecting us as well. When are you people going to abide by what even the Government instructed everyone to do – stay and work from home and do not go out unless completely necessary.”
Several residents have contacted the council to object to the application since it was published on the website last week. Reasons for objection include noise and traffic – and residents said works had already started on the site.
Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning at Stafford Borough Council, said: “The Government has been very clear that the planning process must continue at this time.
“Continuing to run this service will be a key element in the economic recovery of the country when coronavirus measures are lifted. To delay applications would also leave the council open to legal challenge.
“By law we have to put these notices up for certain applications – and at this time we are following the very strict government guidelines regarding social distancing to do this. This is an important way we bring planning applications to the attention of people in that particular area in addition to the individual neighbour letters which have been sent through the post.
“Responses to this application suggest that people are still able to engage with the planning process at this time.”
