Letter: Planning system needs to strike balance

Brian Monteith's perspective piece (Let the People Direct Local Services, 14 February) demonstrates the naivety of Reform Scotland's views of the planning system.

Its latest publication, "Planning Power", is little more than a rehash of proposals for planning reform south of the Border, and, as such, contains solutions to problems that don't exist in Scotland, whilst giving scant attention to the very real problems faced by our communities.

Reform Scotland argues that micro-localism in planning - giving the power over local planning issues to community councils - will result in a quicker, more effective, more pro-active, more developer-friendly and more environmentally friendly system, whilst also resulting in cheaper house prices and more social housing.

If only life was that simple. Greater community involvement in the planning system is welcome, but it is not a universal panacea. Communities should be involved early and provided with support to ensure they have the knowledge and capacity to be key players, but we need to ensure that they look to the bigger picture. Planning decisions need to balance local and strategic needs, they need to be alive to the present whilst looking to the medium and longer term and they need to guard against Nimbyism.

As professional planners, we know that there is a wider public interest at stake, one that takes into account the medium and longer term view. Communities understand the value of schools, hospitals, new transport links, recycling centres - they just don't always want them on their doorstep. That's why decisions should be taken at the best level possible, not the lowest level possible.

The planning system can be improved, but Reform Scotland's suggestions would be a step in the wrong direction.

CRAIG McLAREN

National Director, Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland

Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh