It's your home - but your views don't count, say Labour! (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

It's your home - but your views don't count, say Labour!

December 16, 2008 6:20 PM

Councillor Terry Stacy

The Labour government has been accused of putting its fingers in its ears to pleas from Islington residents who want a say in the planning process.

Until recently, people could object if their neighbour wanted to extend their home. But the government changed the planning laws earlier this year and now residents can extend their home without permission provided it falls within certain permitted planning guidelines.

Islington Liberal Democrats will this week call for the Labour government to change the law on planning so local people can have their say again on extensions to neighbouring homes and stop the possible infilling of gardens in the borough.

Terry Stacy, Liberal Democrat councillor for Highbury East, said:

"The changes this Labour government has made to the permitted development laws mean that local people can hardly ever object when nearby homes are extended. It might be your home, but your views don't matter to Labour obviously."

"Islington residents want to be able to object if their neighbour is going to put in an extension which will block light or means they have less privacy. But the Labour government just don't seem to care and have put their fingers in their ears.

"That is why Islington Lib Dems are calling on the Labour government to change the law back to how it used to be, when building an extension meant you had to have planning permission."