Better Public Consultation Makes Better Plans
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Property developers and promoters of major infrastructural projects should consult directly with members of the public living close to the site so that problems can be ironed out at an early stage, Mr Andrew Hind, President of the Irish Planning Institute (IPI), has suggested.
In order to get greater public involvement in the planning system, Mr Hind also proposed that Focus Group meetings be organised so that people can give their views while greater use should also be made of e-consultation using the Internet.
Addressing an IPI conference, he stated: “I would strongly suggest that planners should reach out more to get the public involved through better and more effective forms of public consultation. I also believe that there is a role for developers in consulting directly with people living near their projects to iron out more of the problems at an earlier stage.”
He pointed out that: “Effective and meaningful public consultation is at the heart of the planning process in a democracy. Greater consensus through more effective public consultation delivers stronger, longer-lasting and more effective plans.”
Referring to new guidelines for the preparation of Development Plans issued by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr Hind said the aim was to:
• Actively involve citizens in the whole process of making the Plan
• Especially those who may not normally engage in the process
• Allow for innovative methods of consultation
• Secure as wide a public consultation as possible
• Build public and political consensus around the strategy of the new Plan
The way to achieve this was through a “Public Consultation Toolbox” which included public meetings, workshops or Focus Group and greater use of the Internet.
Public meetings would allow the sharing of information, exchange of ideas and the introduction of new concepts all with the aim of achieving consensus rather than confrontation.
Workshops or Focus Groups could include a group of 10-12 people based on each topic or theme. This method suited consultation with organised stakeholder groups rather than individuals.
Looking at the role of the Internet, Mr Hind said e-consultation would allow for the dissemination of high quality maps and documents and also interactive potential to achieve the same results as traditional consultation techniques.
However, he pointed out that Internet based surveys showed a bias towards middle and upper social groups and there had been disappointing results from some Development Plan Internet consultations which have taken place.
Mr Hind advised planners to use coherent, well-structured, jargon-free language during any public consultation while documents should be user-friendly and visually attractive. Explanatory leaflets and posters should also be made available.