Residents' chance to speak out on Rother planning applications

For the first time, Rother District Council is allowing members of the public to speak at the monthly meetings – to support or oppose planning applications.

The council is adopting a petition system, in which people or organisations affected by an application are able to nominate a speaker if they collect 10 or more signatures.

Councillor Brian Kentfield, chairman of the planning committee, said: “Planning applications which come to committee, as opposed to being delegated to officers, tend to be those which are the larger or more controversial schemes. While residents have always had, and will continue to have, the right to submit written comments on any planning application, allowing people to speak out during the meeting will give people the chance to make their case directly to members of the committee.

“This is a system that has worked well in other parts of the country and we feel it will give local people an even stronger voice on applications which affect them.”

The new procedure will apply for applications publicised from the beginning of October, while the first opportunity to speak will be at the planning committee meeting on November 17.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.