George Monbiot attacks the planning system in today’s Guardian for being loaded against local communities. He says “the interests of people come second to those of profit in a system where developers work hand in glove with government”. He reports that The Telegraph has “uncovered a new cash for access scandal in which property developers pay £2,500 to the Conservative party to make their views known to members of the government”.

This is why planning in the local community as well as at central government needs to be totally transparent; to avoid perceptions that objectivity has been replaced by other considerations.