ENVIRONMENT is facing calls to open up planning to the media. The request came from Public Services minister Bill Bell following six months of allowing reporters to cover its waste meetings.

Deputy Bell believes the move would lead to a better public understanding of the planning process.

And with pressure mounting, the Environment Department confirmed it will meet in the next fortnight to discuss how to allow more transparency. A former head of the Island Development Committee, Deputy Bell, recently suggested the media coverage idea to Environment minister David De Lisle.

‘It wasn’t totally rejected out of hand,’ said Deputy Bell.

‘I believe if we open up the planning aspects of its responsibilities then the public will have a better understanding of the decisions it is making and why they are made. It will help to build a partnership with the public.’

Deputy De Lisle acknowledged the department needed to react to the continuing demand for openness.

‘This pressure is most likely to continue to be the biggest challenge for planning services in the future and to Government as a whole,’ he said.

‘We have to be seen to meet the challenges of public expectations and the pressure for change will hopefully contribute to the need for continual improvement in planning service to meet current and future expectations.’

In England and Wales the public can attend planning committee meetings to hear applications being considered.

In March, Public Services met for the first time as the Waste Disposal Authority.

All the media can attend future monthly meetings as the five political members and other department officials discuss waste issues and what action it needs to take.

‘It’s broken the mould of the secrecy which prevailed,’ said Deputy Bell.