Sir, - Environment groups, community associations and residents' associations should be aware that the imposition of a fee for submissions to local authorities on planning applications is now about to be implemented. The fee is £16. We regard this as an affront to local democracy as it strikes at the right of every citizen or non-government organisation to play their part in the planning system.
Perhaps people need to be reminded that under the new Planning Act, an appeal to an Bord Pleanβla is valid only if the appellant has already objected to the local authority.
We ask individuals and groups to write letters of protest to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and to their local TDs. We have made representations to the EU and are awaiting a ruling. - Yours, etc.,
Roger Garland, Friends of the Irish Environment, Butterfield Drive, Dublin 14.