NEIGHBOURS wishing to challenge planning applications to alter nearby properties will soon benefit from a new advice and information leaflet.

At a meeting of St Albans District Council's overview and urgency committee, held on Tuesday, October 23, it was decided the public should be given greater access to information about planning applications.

Among the measures which are due to be introduced is a new letter informing neighbours of planning applications in their area and the availability of planning details on the council's website.

Committee chairman Sheila Burton said: "The new letter is jargon-free and sets out the way that members of the public can object to plans.

"One of the main problems we've had in the past is that people have obviously spent a great deal of time on writing an objection letter, which can't be used because they don't stick to the strict objection criteria.

"Hopefully this will make the whole process far more accessible to the public."

By December 1 residents should be receiving the letter and leaflet and will also be able to see a list of current applications on the council's website.

It is hoped that by January 1, the public will also be able to obtain full details of planning applications from the site, which will help tackle the problem of information only being available during council office hours.

October 25, 2001 20:17

By Claire Ling