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There has been an inexorable decline in true local democracy in the UK over recent years, with a shift instead towards a bid culture, in which outside agencies and consultants are widely used. There are a number of ways in which this trend could be reversed. These would include constitutional reform, with efforts being made to ensure that local authorities have coherence and continuity in their planning and in their practice.

The current planning system allows the powerful to put the unpalatable aspects of life in the way of the less powerful and eventually segregate society in an ethically, socially and economically incorrect way. Planning rules are fairly illogical and as in Upper Bangor, they reinforce the present value systems so that planning effectively just increases housing prices in rural areas. All people should have the right to good surroundings, it is socially unacceptable to categorise the community into good and bad, and it is economic folly to distance people from work and community facilities.

The defining of an area as a conservation area does not automatically preserve the area, and as in Upper Bangor may actually cause deterioration. Planning restrictions in the Upper Bangor conservation area has caused stagnation and decay as conversions of listed buildings is prohibited and families leave the area as it becomes more run down. The conservation area designation can therefore be detrimental to areas which should be saved from deterioration by local ayuthorities rather than added to a growing list of prestigious special designations.

Britain ranks with Poland and Uruguay in a survey of countries and the amount of democracy available to their citizens. All the other state of the European Union have higher scores. The lack of democracy is illustrated by a letter from the Welsh Office turning down a written request for it to use its 'call-in' powers for a particular planning application. The letter makes no reference to the reasons behind its refusal and acts against the two key concepts of democracy, reason and equality. The letter is not one that would have been sent by a civil servant in a truly democratic nation.

About half of UK local planning authorities unlawfully fail to appraise the public of their right to examine planning documents. This failing is indicative of the local political culture in many places, which is hostile to the concept of openness. There is a case for national government guidance on procedures and reporting in the planning process.

Friedmann, J., Planning in the Public Domain: From Knowledge to Action. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1987.

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