The end of people power?

Residents of Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne know a thing or two about using the voice of the people when it comes to protesting against large developments on their doorsteps.

Resident Tony Sparrow was horrified when he found out DIY giant B&Q planned to build a warehouse, builder's yard and 540-space car park near his home.

He said: "It was the summer last year when we were notified by Eastbourne Borough Council. They told all the residents about the application.

"My initial reaction was to ask what it was about. I went to the planning department and had a look at what was planned and it all went on from there."

Mr Sparrow rallied the support of neighbours who formed protest group Sovereign Harbour Against Rogue Planning (Sharp).

Armed with a petition of 1,500 names the group bombarded the council with letters of protest and appealed to maintain the quality of life at the £100 million marina development.

Keeping updated through the Sharp web site, the group co-ordinated, organised and eventually won their campaign.

Protester Chris Peppiatt said: "I was absolutely horrified when I heard it was going to be put in the harbour area.

"We spent a lot of money buying our properties and the last thing we wanted was a huge B&Q in this wonderful area.

"We weren't being snobby about it but a B&Q should not be the first thing you see when you drive into the harbour."

The giant's application was unanimously thrown out on May 23 despite council officers urging councillors to approve it.

Mr Sparrow said: "It was quite obvious Eastbourne Borough Council's planning department wanted it.

"They tried hard to have it pushed through."

But if planning rules being considered by the Government come into force the voice of the people could end up as just a whisper lost in a din of paper shuffling.

At present, planning applications on the scale of B&Q in Eastbourne are considered at county council and borough council levels.

If the application is likely to impact on roads and housing in the town, county council officers step in with reports and recommendations.

Crucially, all planning applications, large or small, are open to public comment.

Residents worried about the size of a neighbour's planned conservatory can voice their fears to planning committees sitting in their towns.

But councillors at county and borough level fear if recommendations set out in a Government Green Paper are adhered to, the public's right to comment would be lost and the main decision-making left in the hands of developers.

On the larger scale it could mean developments as controversial as the Newhaven incinerator could effectively lie in the hands of regional authorities, proposing to take over from county councils.

County council planning members and officers currently present the future of the county in the form of waste, local and transport plans, known as structure plans.

Government officials propose scrapping the structure plans, effectively removing power at county council level.

The move would be the biggest shake-up in planning for more than 50 years and has been met with a tide of protest.

More than 15,000 responses were received against the proposals.

More than 90 per cent came out against the proposals when the Government put the paper out to consultation nationally.

Leader of East Sussex County Council Peter Jones said: "I hope the Government will take notice of these results.

"The council supports modernising the planning system but it seems many people agreed with us that abolishing the county council's role in planning is the wrong way to do it.

"People want to determine the future of their areas. That message comes across loud and clear."

Among those consulted over abolishing structure plans were business owners, members of the public, environmental and community groups and local authorities.

More than 90 per cent of the public, environmental and community groups consulted disagreed with the abolition of structure plans while 74 per cent of business owners were also against the idea.

Leader of West Sussex County Council Harold Hall voiced his concerns about the Green Paper last year when the Government's plan first came to light.

He said: "We share the concern of environmental groups that these proposals reduce public influence on land use and leave the field open to developers."

The Green Paper says a simpler, faster and more accessible planning system is needed to deliver development.

Elsewhere the paper states: "A proper planning system is vital to our quality of life."

The paper described the present system as complex, remote, hard to understand and difficult to access.

But it was this remote system that made it possible for people like Mr Sparrow and the Sharp group to have their concerns heard.

Mr Sparrow said: "I don't know what will happen now. The B&Q plan rode roughshod over the local plan."