tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7184726667731545646.post6657836535087466234..comments2023-08-17T06:08:28.862-07:00Comments on Temple Group Blog: Improving our understanding of community engagement on infrastructure projects Temple Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07297916257951281320noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7184726667731545646.post-41877196573372780122014-11-11T03:44:11.206-08:002014-11-11T03:44:11.206-08:00Jenny
Interesting article. For many years I was e...Jenny<br /><br />Interesting article. For many years I was engaged in the aggregates sector and more recently working for myself. In both cases I have been involved with the preparation and submission of contentious planning applications. Historically these have been quarries and asphalt plants and more recently residential and motor racing.<br /><br />I do take your point on early engagement and it certainly has proved its worth. Quite often though it is a struggle to get all cross sections of the community to engage. It is more often than not that opponents to a scheme will be somewhat more vocal than supporters. You also have the age old debate with many people on technical issues. You may well have proved and demonstrated technically that a particular issue has been addressed but in the mind of the resident that isn't enough.<br /><br />A further issue is getting the stakeholders to understand how you operate. Many now take a long term view and if you can persuade them to visit a similar facility they will have a much better appreciation. I have done this a few times and it really does help.<br /><br />From experience one matter does concern me is not being able to engage with the elected members and we are all aware of the rules they have to comply with. However it does seem odd that a resident can speak to the councillors at any time yet the applicant in many cases can't. This leads to misunderstandings, use of incorrect information, false perceptions and in all too many cases elected members speaking at Committee and simply being badly informed. This has to improve to allow better communication and engagement.<br /><br />Finally it may well be worth some opponents (individuals or groups) taking a more pragmatic and again long term view. It may well be that the applicant has submitted a well planned and designed scheme that complies with the Local Plan/Core Strategy and all policy. In cold light of day that scheme is more likely to get consent than not. It may be that with open dialogue (and as far as one can removing the emotion) that by working together with the applicant a solution can be found. Quite often with a few concessions on both sides a good development with limited impact can result.<br /><br />I finish with a classic example of an individual opposing a proposed quarry site in the Trent Valley. He was pictured near Attenborough which is a working sand and gravel quarry and a first class nature reserve. The individual clearly had no idea or appreciation that the nature reserve he was so fondly talking about was the result of mineral extraction. Jeremy Murfitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423162274614653125noreply@blogger.com