This is a copy of a letter published in todays Guardian, which explains far better than I can, the dangers of this bill. The infrastructure bill now making its way through the Commons is yet another threat by this government to take away the rights of the public – not just in future developments but also in environmentally damaging activities such as fracking. It has already been passed by the Lords. If it becomes law the following will occur: 1) Any public land (apart from that owned by the royal family and now our forests) can be transferred to the government’s Homes and Communities Agency, to be passed on to private firms to use for any kind of development, with all rights of public access removed. 2) The recovery of gas and oil – including fracking, coal gasification, coalbed methane extraction and geothermal – anywhere in Britain to be a legal objective. 3) The right to dump and abandon any substance whatsoever under any land (including radioactive and gases). 4) The right to drill under any land, public or private. 5) Major projects (such as power stations, new towns, high-speed rail and motorways) to be decided on by government rather than councils, with communities also unlikely to be consulted. 6) Any species deemed non-native (including barn owls, red kites, goshawks) can be controlled or exterminated. 7) Councils given short time limits to enforce planning restrictions or their duties will be discharged by a panel of two government inspectors and a minister, giving developers free rein. 8) The Land Registry to be given major new powers to hold local registers, and be the judge, jury and executioner on land ownership disputes. 9) Anyone building fewer than 50 houses in a development will no longer need to ensure they are zero carbon or eco-friendly. If this becomes law it makes a mockery of any democratic rights still held by the people of this country. There is a mass lobby of parliament on 14 January. Canon Andrea Titterington Preston, Lancashire
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:36:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015