Planning

Parish Councils are consulted by the relevant Planning Authority (which in our case is Somerset West and Taunton) on all planning applications.  Any views expressed by the Parish Council will be taken into account by the Planning Authority before a decision is made, providing the points made are relevant to the determination of a planning application. 

The final decision is made by the Planning Authority, not the Parish Councils.

Stawley Parish Council will only comment on what are known as “material considerations” – issues, for example, such as boundary disputes between neighbours or loss of views will not be considered.

We will agree to comment on planning applications in a council meeting which the public can attend.   The comments agreed in the council meeting are submitted in writing by the parish clerk to the Planning Authority.   The process is exactly the same as that of an individual wishing to comment on a planning application.   The council is a statutory consultees and have no powers to approve or reject planning applications, they can only comment or not on applications.

Further information can be found on the Somerset West and Taunton website at: https://www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/planning/