LOCAL BODIES URGED TO BE LESS FUSSY: PLANNING IMPORTANT

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 September 1950, Page 5

LOCAL BODIES URGED TO BE LESS FUSSY: PLANNING IMPORTANT

LONDON, Sept. 8 (Recd. 6pm).— Local authorities should be less “pernickety and. fussy,” in administering official regulations and should endeavour to help rather than hinder the public, said the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning, Mr. C. S. Lundgren, addressing the town planning officers summer school at Nottingham. "I am certain an ordinary man would be far more ready to understand and support the big things if he was less irritated over the small,” said Mr. Lindgren. “Sometimes, it seems to me that over-zealour officers are too ready to refuse permission when the point at. issue is small and not vital to the planning of an area. The planner should always be on his guard against over-application of technics] principles He should constantly ask himself: “Is this really important?’ and ‘how much does it matter'?”

Mr Lindgren emphasised that even when it was necessary to refuse an application because it conflicted with town planning ideas, the reasons for refusal should be fully and simply explained. Planning paid in the long run, but in the short run it was often irksome to the individual Planning officials must, therefore, do their best to show that their decisions were in the general interest and to carry the public with them.—Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.