Plan for change

Peter Head (Opinion, 25 May), referring to his address to the Town Planning Institute, describes the huge societal changes needed if our massive problems are to be addressed and development becomes "sustainable".

These are already recognised by many existing aims and polices of Scottish and local governments. However, there is no real "joined-up" approach to efficient use of resources of land, water, energy and infrastructure. In development management key national issues of good access on foot, cycle, and bus to work, school, shops, leisure facilities etc. and location, layout/ design of buildings to minimise energy and water use, and maximising use of existing services are downplayed, even ignored.

Nor do reducing inequality and poverty and improving health (physical and mental) rate much concern although these are crucial to "sustainable" development. Instead the focus is often on secondary, even trivial matters such as appearances, "amenity", and car movements, with no mention of the economic, social , or environmental costs/benefits of the decisions made.

As usual there is vast gap between what organisations purport to achieve and what they actually do. Until many more people put strong pressures on politicians and institutions (including professions) to change radically their approaches and priorities there is no likelihood of the changes advocated by Mr Head coming to pass.

CLAIRE BAXTER

Dunkeld Road

Perth