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Revealed: the wind farms and waste dumps that are planned near you
Last updated at 11:37am on 03.08.07More than 100 controversial developments - from airport extensions to nuclear waste dumps - could be forced through by the Government despite public opposition, it has been claimed.
A proposed shake-up of planning laws will strip residents of the right to challenge wind farms, major roads or massive waste incinerators being built on their doorsteps, according to countryside campaigners.
The list of projects that could be pushed through over the next few years is highlighted today on a new interactive map of Britain.
Click to enlarge the map below for a detailed look at the planned projects near you
Available online, it pinpoints:
• Giant waste incinerators earmarked for Cheshire and Peterborough.
• Up to ten nuclear power stations, including new reactors at Sizewell, Suffolk and Calderhall, Cumbria.
• Airport expansions at Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Heathrow and Stansted.
• Around 50 major road schemes, including the widening of the M6 and a new bridge over the Mersey.
• A major new reservoir flooding five square miles of Oxfordshire.
• Sixteen offshore and onshore wind farms.
The map - which can be viewed at www.planningdisaster.co.uk - has been created by Planning Disaster, an umbrella group including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trust, The Ramblers' Association and The National Trust.
Owen Espley, a spokesman for the campaigners, said the proposed changes to planning laws - outlined earlier this year in the Planning White Paper - are a 'disaster' for local democracy.
The reforms would remove the public's right to challenge controversial projects at a public inquiry. The coalition says decisions would also be taken out of the hands of politicians and given to 'an unelected, and unaccountable' new body called the Infrastructure Planning Commission.
"These are the developments that the Government is likely to push through if it makes its reforms," said Mr Espley. "None have got planning permission yet, but are all being proposed.
"The map allows people to find out for themselves what could be coming to their neighbourhood - and why it is so important to object now to these changes."
Current planning laws have been criticised by businesses for making it too easy for local residents to delay major new developments.
The Planning White Paper is out now for consultation and is expected to become a Bill in the autumn.
Reader views (3)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Building more nuclear power stations is stupid. And building a new nuclear power station at Dungeness is stupidity combined with madness.
Dungeness is on the Kent coast. Rising sea levels, caused by climate change, will mean the existing nuclear facility will soon be under water. That will lead to radioactive pollution of the Kent and Sussex coast and the Channel for thousands of years. Despite that, some twits are planning to build another one in the same place.
It makes you doubt the competence, sanity and business acumen of the nerds behind these new nukes.
- Austen, London
Planning Disaster should form a political group, they'd get more votes than the current lying bunch of clowns.
- Andy, london
What a strange up take on these issues. If the people need power for their gizmos, tarmac to drive their cars on, dispose of their accumulated wasteful junk, water for their pools and washing machines, airports to jet off to their holiday destinations. Who are we trying to protect and from what? Do we or do we not use all of these facilities. Is the population growing or not? Do we really want gas from Russia, our electricity from France, and our rubbish sent to China?
The real disaster here is that in this country we waste everything , and demand more and more. The country has become so materialistic and disgraceful in its attitude to recycling and although alot of us are trying very hard, more and more new cars are on the road, more throw away life styles are created. DOORSTEPS are the place to build these new facilities. No matter what they are. A paradigm shift is needed in attitudes I am afraid.
- Maggie Snook, Wool , Dorset
