Moray MP and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross calls for less central interference in planning matters
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The ability of central government to overturn local planning decisions should be "a thing of the past", according to Moray’s MP.
At present, applicants can appeal to the Scottish Government’s department for planning and environmental appeals.
Government-appointed reporters then have the power to recommend that the decision of local councilors be overturned.
Back in January, two local planning decisions in Moray were reversed within two days.
The applications from Springfield Propeties for housing at Bain Avenue in Elgin and Ferrylea in Forres were thrown out by Moray Council planning committee.
However both were granted on appeal.
Douglas Ross said: "Communities in Moray have first-hand experience of local decision-making being taken out of the hands of councillors by the Scottish Government.
"Local councillors had weighed up the arguments on both sides and did what they thought was best for their communities.
"It is galling that their decision counted for nothing in the end.
"I know from my time chairing the Planning Committee on Moray Council how frustrating it is for local people to have their opinions heard and agreed with at a local level, only for a decision to be reversed.
"It is time that we returned more power to local communities.
"The Scottish Government should not have the power, unless there are exceptional circumstances, to overturn local decisions.
"I want to make these reversals of local decisions a thing of the past."
