SMITH DUE TO LEAD DEBATE FOR TOUGHER PLANNING ENFORCEMENT AT HOLYROOD

9.40.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Sep 2008

North East Fife MSP Iain Smith will tomorrow lead a debate in the Scottish Parliament to press for tougher planning law enforcement following recent concerns regarding the traveller's site application at Fordelhill and the case of a taxi control room in St Andrews.

Commenting before his Member's Business debate tomorrow, Iain Smith said, "It is clear that communities are losing confidence in the planning system when people are seen to get away with developing without planning permission and blatantly running roughshod over the planning process.

"My proposal will provide a real disincentive for those who deliberately flout planning laws, whilst leaving sufficient discretion for local councils to take account of any extenuating circumstances."

ENDS

Notes

1- The full text of Iain Smith MSP's motion

"That the Parliament notes with concern the difficulties faced by planning authorities, such as Fife Council, in attempting to

deal with breaches of planning legislation through enforcement and stop notices; considers that development without the

appropriate planning approval undermines the rule of law and the planning process and that the present planning legislation

does not provide a sufficient safeguard against unlawful development; believes that appeals against enforcement or stop

notices should not be permitted on the grounds that planning permission for the development would have been granted or that

a planning application for the development has been submitted; further believes that there should be a presumption against

approval for any development that has been carried out without the appropriate planning approvals, and desires further debate

on these proposals.

2- The debate will be after decision time at 5pm on Thursday 4th September