Just when you thought that the environmental damage caused by the expansion of Swindon couldn't get any worse, Tony Blair has caved in to the developers' wish-list and handed them a massive Christmas present.

Swingeing changes to the planning system are proposed in a green paper which will mean that decisions about certain major projects will be made by central government, whilst local people will only be able to argue about such issues as what colour the doors might be painted. Local authorities will be able to allocate land for business use without the need for a developer to submit a planning application.

Decisions about how many houses will be needed will be taken by remote unelected regional bodies. Individuals will lose the right to be heard at a public inquiry if they have an objection to a local plan.

Instead only those with property interests are likely to retain such a right.

The government's green paper is the result of a concerted business lobby led by the CBI. They believe that removing the public rights will give them free reign to dominate the planning process. Government has failed to recognise that business is already in a dominant position, making by far the greatest number of objections to local plans. Government is intent on a system where only those with an interest in property can have a real right to participate.

Profits should not come before the well-being of people or their environment and we have until March to make our views known. The green paper "Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change" should be available free from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorks LS23 7NB. Telephone 0870 1226 236.

Anyone who wants details about how they might object can write to foeswindon@hotmail.com or phone 01793 783040.

Jean Saunders

Swindon Friends of the Earth

Longcot, Oxon