Cullingworth parish council has voted in favour of providing more information for villagers who lodge planning applications. Parish councillors agreed to list applications which will be discussed at future meetings.

Councillors' agreed that pinning up a list of applications on the village hall noticeboard would let people know when their plans would be discussed. The council believes this will give those concerned a chance to attend the parish meeting and listen to discussions about their plans.

The issue was raised by Cllr Elvin Brame at this week's meeting. Cllr Brame argued that if the parish council objects to a set of plans, it should contact the person involved to give them a right of reply.

Citing the example of current plans being lodged by the residents of Cow House Farm, he argued that villagers concerned should be contacted out of courtesy.

He said: "If we are giving reasons for rejecting an application we should be accountable and go and visit those people concerned and explain the reasons why."

Vice chairman Cllr Ken Thompson disagreed.

He argued: "I don't think it would be practical at all and I don't know any other council that does that."

Cllr Malcolm Wadsworth and Cllr Brenda Sumerfield also argued that it would be impractical to contact all those concerned.

With a majority in favour of using some other form of notification, it was decided that the council should instead place forthcoming plans in a more prominent spot.

Although parish councils have no direct say in whether or not plans are approved, their recommendations are taken into consideration by planning sub-committes.

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