CONCERNS continue to be raised over a newly formed council’s planning process which ‘is not working for residents’ and ‘becoming less local’.

Members of the public are ‘disappointed’ that Whitehaven planning applications have been scheduled to be heard by Cumberland Council’s planning committee at the Civic Centre in Carlisle.

This means Whitehaven residents who wish to object to plans face an 80-mile round trip to ‘demonstrate their democratic right’.

Calls have now been made for the planning committee to be split in two with the creation of a north Cumberland committee to consider plans for Carlisle and a south Cumberland committee for applications in west Cumbria.

Cumberland councillor Joseph Ghayouba said he would be in support of this. He said: “I agree with what residents’ concerns are. Localism should be at the heart of planning.

“For both members and residents, planning feels like it’s become less local. In every other aspect of Cumberland, localism is more apparent. It’s all about communities having an input which is great.

“For planning, it feels like it’s become less local and it’s not working for residents, which is the most important thing.”

Whitehaven town councillor Graham Roberts is due to speak in opposition to plans for 23 houses at Harras Moor in Whitehaven next week and will have to travel to Carlisle.

He said: “It’s costing residents a lot of money to get there. I think there’s got to be some sort of compromise. We’ve got to think about people’s infirmities. If you’re going on public transport, it’s a long day.

“The problem we faced is that a unitary authority would take it away from the public and that’s what we’ve got.”

A spokesperson for Cumberland Council said: “Planning is a statutory function that plays a crucial role in the development and growth of any local government area.

“The Committee currently holds its meetings at two different locations: the Civic Centre in Carlisle and Allerdale House in Workington. This decision is based on several factors, such as technology, accessibility, and the volume of applications expected to be reviewed by the Planning Committee.

“There are currently no plans to alter the existing planning arrangements.

“The agenda setting is based on when applications need to be determined, so that they are timely and decisions are not prolonged.

“Government Guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework advises that decisions on planning applications should be made as quickly as possible and within statutory timescales or extended timescales agreed with the applicant.”