Council sees red over blue homes

Fears have been voiced that parish councils will have less say over plans for new developments in future.

Beeston Regis Parish Council this week heard North Norfolk District Council was, at present, legally obliged to consult it over any new planning applications in its patch.

However, members were warned that proposed changes to how plans are approved mean it may soon only be consulted on the first stage of developments.

Under the new plans, councillors were told they could, for example, say where a house could be built but not be consulted on what type of house should go there.

Parish council clerk Peter Bullimore said: 'Someone could end up building a house with blue bricks and we couldn't do anything about it.'

Councillors expressed their disappointment at the proposals for a diminished role.

But vice-chairman Roy Beckley said: 'The whole thing seems to be a way forward to get things moving quicker.'