Devon County Counil

so the Executive of Devon County Council have adopted the devon County waste Local Plan, today 2nd May 2006.There is a European Directive 2001/42/EC which comes into effect on the 21st July 2006 and this directive requires that any plans that are completed after 21st July 2006 should undergo environmental assessment. Although the Waste Local Plan has undergoner sustainability appraisal, this process does not meet the requirements of the SEA directive, and it would not be feasible to undertake such an environmental assessment at this advanced stage of the Plan's preparation.Now, dear readers I think that Devon County Council are not at all happy with me saying that they have rushed through the adoption of the local plan so as not to have to complete an environmental assessment of their plan. Where am I so wrong. The European directive was issued in 2001, five years ago. It passed into UK law in 2003, three years ago, and yet the wonderful people over in County hall have ploughed on choosing to ignore the directive. They now say they would have to rip the plan up if they don't adopt it. Why have they left it all so late.Devon county Council is run bythe liberal democrats, who are meant to believe in Green issues yet they adopt a plan which specifically excludes an environmental assessment.These people have lost touch with reality and all we can hope is that the Inspectors Report on the Waste Local Plan tells the County and its officers that it must meet with the European Directive 2001/42/EC.On Thursday spoil your ballot paper and let these people know what you think.