OTS Exclusive: Councillor says Council ignoring conservation meeting laws

18th October 2017

The council is tonight making a last ditch effort to cover its lawbreaking over conservation, says a town centre councillor 

In a move he described as ‘half-baked desperation’ Councillor Tony Dawson, says the Sefton Council Planning Committee which will discuss the Lord Street and Promenade Conservation Area option appraisals at Southport Town Hall.

Section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990 states that it is the duty of the council: “from time to time to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of .. conservation areas, that . . .” such proposals shall be submitted for consideration to a public meeting in the area to which they relate”

Councillor Dawson, who has a record in exposing past costly unlawful acts by the Council says: “I have notified the occupying forces in Bootle that the lack of a public meeting on these Conservation Area proposals is not only unacceptable, it’s unlawful. Do I expect any change? Do me a favour.”

The Council held ‘a couple of events’ in the summer where they made planning officers available by appointment to talk about its Conservation Area proposals. But, as Councillor Dawson has pointed out to Council officers in recent weeks that such events in no way come anywhere near satisfying the clear requirements of the law.

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