“We believe in localism and want to encourage more meaningful involvement for communities in decision making”

So say the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. <here>

But permission has been granted on appeal for 15 new dwellings at Stoney Hills. This overturns the decision of the local planning authority. The local Town Council, neighbours and Civic Society all objected to the original proposal. The development lies outside the settlement boundary proposed in the local plan.

It seems a <decision> has been taken that the proper balance between local benefits, and damage to the local landscape, local heritage, local character, local traffic and local distinctiveness is not the balance that local people chose.

We believe in localism too. We also want to encourage more meaningful involvement for our community in decision making. But it won’t be easy to drown out the sound of hollow laughter.